| Though we were not taught quality
improvement in medical school, it is of prime importance
for all doctors. The well-being and the lives of the
patients we care for everyday depends on quality
improvement. Understanding this, the Annals of Internal
Medicine has introduced a new section on “Improving
Patient Care”, comprised of recent research articles on
quality improvement. The quality improvement movement
is affecting our practices in unprecedented ways. Our
reputation, earnings, and credentialing are beginning to
depend on quality improvement.
So as physicians, we need to explore:
- What is quality improvement?
- Why should we work at quality improvement?
- How is quality improvement measured and how can
we tell if we've achieved the improvements we
desire?
- What tools do we need to improve care in our
offices, hospitals, and clinics?
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