Quality management and health : a double connection

• The purpose of this paper is to examine and discuss the effects of quality management in the health care sector and the general effects of quality management on the health of the employees. Methodology/approach The empirical basis consists of three case studies in one industrial manufacturing company and two hospitals. The empirical data have been gathered with both qualitative and quantitative methods. Findings: The twofold value of quality management, of preventing disease by supporting more rewarding working conditions as well as improving the treatment of disease by increasing the effectiveness of health care organisations it indicated. Leadership commitment was found to be the most crucial common prerequisite for successful quality management implementation and for creating a healthy work environment. In addition, continuous improvements and participation of everybody were found to have importance for well functioning quality management as well as for health. Research limitations/implications: The paper provides additional understanding of the influence of quality management on health and a model is presented. A limitation is that the factors studied are fairly broad and for further research it will be useful to go deeper into the mechanics of them. Practical implications: The three factors leadership commitment, participation of everybody and continuous improvements have been shown to be vital contributors for health and managers should make every effort to implement them. Originality/value: The double effect of quality management on health has not been studied before and knowledge of the factors contributing to it is valuable.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Annan maskinteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Other Mechanical Engineering (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Quality Management

Health

Health-care

Leadership Commitment

Society

Quality Technology and Management

TQM

Quality control

Kvalitetsteknik

Kvalitet

Other industrial engineering and economics

Övrig industriell teknik och ekonomi

Teknik

Technology (byts ev till Engineering)

Vårdvetenskap

Caring Science

Business studies

Business administration

Kvalitetsutveckling

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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