Quality Assurance in Health Care

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter explains that despite conceptual and methodologic problems, the quality of medical and other health care can be assessed. Quality assessment can be transformed into quality assurance or control by appropriate action, even though much of the initial activity in medical quality assurance has been ineffectual and has lacked coordination. It is important to indicate to health care practitioners that why they should be involved in quality assurance activities. Public accountability for the cost and quality of care has increased in proportion to public financing of care. The locus of accountability for both the cost and quality of health care services is, and should be, the hospital because of its ability to develop standards, review and evaluate care, and implement remedial action. The chapter further discusses the significant problems of both cost and quality in health care, which will not go away just because health practitioners are reluctant to become involved.