Free Essay: Quality Management in Health Care
Six Sigma Approach
The operation and face of business has been changed by the concept of Six Sigma. The concept is a process that makes it possible for businesses not only to deliver services but goods as well. It can also be defined as the strategy that a company uses in order to identify flaws that occur in its operations and processes and which establishes the means of correcting such failures. The term Sigma is borrowed from statistical concept and it usually defines how small or big a deviation is from delivery of ideal works and goods towards elimination of such deviations the concept as well triggers the thinking process and quality on all phases of business operation across the globe. A product is said to have Six Sigma quality once it delivers a maximum 3.4 defects in one million chance (Sollecito & Johnson, 2010).
At the heart of operation, Six Sigma rotates around some key concepts. First, there is quality significance, which is crucial to a consumer. Secondly, there is deficiency in supply of consumer needs, thirdly, there is system process capability and differentiation, which assess the feelings of consumers and product view. Lastly, it is the predictability and consistency of the system which seeks to improve the view and feelings of consumers regarding a product and its design as well as ability to satisfy process ability and consumer utility. The observation is that consumes attach a lot of value in the predictability and consistency of enterprise process in delivery of high quality levels. As such, the concept of Six Sigma seeks to accomplish this consumer need. Companies that adopt the concept realize fairly prized, improved services and products for clients without making compromises on quality (LA, 2010).
Six Sigma Greenbelt
The process of six sigma entails a couple of levels which include green belt, black belt and master black belt. Each of these levels demands several pre-qualification tests to be carried out which can be done by personnel who are professionally trained and expose practically to the program for purposes of getting sure judgment and results. Additionally, the awards are granted to professionals for completion of different levels in the course. The first level, the green belt is achieved when an individual completes a 2 weeks training and pass qualifying exam. The curriculum is comprised of features like define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC), which make up integration of related phases. Under such integration, there is a definition of the consumers, stipulation of their needs and bringing forward of the necessary recommendations (Solberg, 1993).
Limitations of present operations are highlighted and processes for improvement suggested on the same. The efficiency of a company is measured through data analysis and data collection with every identified error enlisted. The phase of analysis aims at bridging the gap between targeted outcomes and current methods while improvement stage seeks to actualize stipulated measures that boost company operations. Lastly, the control stage enlightened how to keep pace with policies that are newly introduced as well as strategies in maintenance and improvement of quality according to the goals of companies (LA, 2010).
Six Sigma Black Belts
The six sigma black belt is awarded upon completion of intense period of training of 4 weeks which are inclusive of six sigma green belt curriculum. The personnel awarded with the black belt certification have the ability of training six sigma candidates and they are able to sharpen individual skills while at it. This level facilitates understanding of six sigma roadmap, cross-functional course advancements and the comprehensive arithmetic methodologies. This is a popular level and it takes the authority as Six Sigma group lead (Kelly, 2007).
Master Black Belt
This level will take into consideration the personnel able to complete black belt level like the Master Black Belt which is awarded upon completion of 4 weeks training with implementation of learned concepts as Six Sigma project manager within an organization. Individuals in this case are obligated to share knowledge with view of assisting candidates on green and black belt levels to improvise their individual proposals. Additionally, they train other employees in the business to achieve green belt and black belt certification without the company having to pay extra tuition for the same. This helps save the company money and it also boosts the level of productivity by having staff who are well trained. In the long run, the result is that the company is able to reduce costs since it maximizes on profits (LA, 2010).
The Impact of the Six Sigma on the TQM/CQI Process
Total Quality Management (TQM) is the executive approach established by William Edwards Deming and its goal is enhancing quality through adhering to internal expectations. This can be achieved through enhancing customer utility, modernizing the company’s equipment, minimizing production flaws and extensive expertise training among others. Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) on the other hand is a concept that aims at establishing and building a firm’s processes and organization instead of individuals. The approach places a check on both external and internal consumers.
Common wealth fund report indicates that the United States health care facilities are ranked as the most expensive globally yet, the quality is way below the cost. For example, it cites quality of care delivered varies greatly with chances of curbing diseases, deaths, disabilities and hospitalization being frequently missed. The US ranks as 65 in count of 100 studies of nations that have best performing facilities for healthcare. The report further indicates the US healthcare has not improved since the first rating scorecard was carried out in 2006. The report suggests the US would reduce the number of people who die prematurely by as high as 101,000 people if it sought to pursue quality assurance its health care services. This is a clear indication various regions in the US would improve health care service facilities once the concept of six sigma is adopted as well as the TQM and CQI quality assurance approach (CMWF, 2008).
Upon adoption of these approaches, the US is going to reduce flaws that occur in its processes, it would as well seek to identify consumer needs and meet them through world class quality at fair costs. In the end, this will reduce the high mortality premature rates and get rid of opportunities that are missed in eradication diseases and disabilities conception as well as hospitalization and other challenges. What is more, Six Sigma process will facilitate the training of additional personnel at costs that are cheaper as such, maximizing on productivity (CMWF, 2008).
Reference
Kelly, D. L. (2007). Applying Quality Management in Healthcare: A systems Approach (2). Chicago: Health Administration Press.
Legacy Analytics (LA). (2010). TQM, SIX SIGMA, CQI AND CIP. Retrieved on 19th October, 2013 from: www.legacyanalytics.net/default.aspx
Solberg, L. (1993). Improving Disease Prevention in Primary Care. Washington, DC: AHCPR Working Paper.
Sollecito W., & Johnson, K. (2010). Factors Influencing the Application and Diffusion of CQI in Health Care. New York: NY, Routlegde
The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System (CMWF). (2008). Why Not the Best? Results from the National Scorecard on U.S. Health system Perfomance. New York: NY, Routlegde