Biomaterial Database

Implementing continuous quality improvement in occupational health programs. 1990

H D Belk

Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

In the 1980s, businessmen responded to global competition by massive cuts in staff and by implementing programs for continuous quality improvement to meet customers' needs. During this period, medical care costs escalated at a rate far exceeding the Consumer Price Index. Increasing governmental regulation of the environment and occupational health and safety further contributed to costs. Occupational physicians led a portion of organizational efforts to manage health resources (illness prevention, health promotion, treatment and rehabilitation of occupational injuries); however, these physicians have not provided effective leadership of coordinated programs for health resource management. For greater effectiveness, occupational physicians may benefit from adapting the principles of continuous quality improvement by focusing on the needs of "the customers." Meeting these needs will require new knowledge about the process of continuous quality improvement and new skills for leadership.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009787	Occupational Medicine	Medical specialty concerned with the promotion and maintenance of the physical and mental health of employees in occupational settings.	Industrial Medicine,Medicine, Industrial,Medicine, Occupational
D010043	Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care	Evaluation procedures that focus on both the outcome or status (OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT) of the patient at the end of an episode of care - presence of symptoms, level of activity, and mortality; and the process (ASSESSMENT, PROCESS) - what is done for the patient diagnostically and therapeutically.	Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care),Donabedian Model,Donabedian Triad,Outcome and Process Assessment,Structure Process Outcome Triad,Model, Donabedian,Triad, Donabedian
D010819	Physician's Role	The expected function of a member of the medical profession.	Physicians' Role,Physician Role,Physician's Roles,Physicians Role,Physicians' Roles,Role, Physician's,Role, Physicians',Roles, Physician's,Roles, Physicians'
D011785	Quality Assurance, Health Care	Activities and programs intended to assure or improve the quality of care in either a defined medical setting or a program. The concept includes the assessment or evaluation of the quality of care; identification of problems or shortcomings in the delivery of care; designing activities to overcome these deficiencies; and follow-up monitoring to ensure effectiveness of corrective steps.	Quality Assessment, Health Care,Health Care Quality Assessment,Health Care Quality Assurance,Healthcare Quality Assessment,Healthcare Quality Assurance,Quality Assessment, Healthcare,Quality Assurance, Healthcare,Assessment, Healthcare Quality,Assessments, Healthcare Quality,Assurance, Healthcare Quality,Assurances, Healthcare Quality,Healthcare Quality Assessments,Healthcare Quality Assurances,Quality Assessments, Healthcare,Quality Assurances, Healthcare
D006293	Health Promotion	Encouraging consumer behaviors most likely to optimize health potentials (physical and psychosocial) through health information, preventive programs, and access to medical care.	Health Campaigns,Promotion of Health,Wellness Programs,Promotional Items,Campaign, Health,Campaigns, Health,Health Campaign,Health Promotions,Item, Promotional,Items, Promotional,Program, Wellness,Programs, Wellness,Promotion, Health,Promotional Item,Promotions, Health,Wellness Program
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.