THE MAJOR PRINCIPLES OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

In order to satisfy all the quality standards in health care, it is necessary for the health care organizations to follow several principles of Total quality management. They include the next ones:
• Principle of leadership. It is known that leaders will be able “to establish unity of purpose and direction”. They will help the medical staff to achieve the major organization’s goals and meet the needs of the patients.
• Principle of customer focused health organization. As health care organization depends on its patients, it should realize the major needs of the patients and meet their requirements in order to exceed patients expectations.
• Principle of involvement of the medical staff. It is clear that the personnel at all levels influence the work of organization. The involvement of the staff will make it possible to benefit the organization and the patients.
• Process approach. This principle helps to achieve the desired result when “all the activities in health care system are managed as a process”.
• Principle of continual improvement. It will help to put the organization on the highest level.
• Factual approach to decision making. This principle is focused on the appropriate analysis of information.
• Principle of system approach to management. This principle will help to achieve the major objectives of the organization.
• Mutually beneficial supplier relationships. This principle provides effectiveness of the organization and “the ability to create value” in health care. (Patel, 2007, p.2)
The above mentioned principles of Total quality management have the major goal – to increase customer satisfaction “at continually lower real cost”. It is known that Total quality management system approach will make it possible to develop “high level strategy” by means of different educational and training programs for the medical staff, teamwork, quality assurance and control, and total improvement of health care system. (Patel, 2007, p.3)
APPLYING THE MAIN CONCEPTS OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT TO HEALT ORGANIZATIONS
As Total quality management is a special systematic approach which is based on “implementing a continuous organizational improvement process” in order to satisfy all the expectations of the customers, it is also can serve to identify problems and find solutions. Total quality management uses such analytical tools as “flow and statistics charts, and check sheets” which help to gather information concerning the activities in the health organization. Moreover, Total quality management uses such process techniques as “nominal groups, brainstorming, and consensus” in order to make communication and decision-making easier. (Kaluzny et al., 1992, p.257)
Moreover, Total quality management is based on active participation on all the medical personnel levels. It is clear that the medical personnel should “have a clear understanding of the work process”. It requires the use of process analysis in order to evaluate all the activities. (Kaluzny et al., 1992, p.259)
THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS THAT WILL BE INVOLVED IN TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT
It is known that the ultimate success of applying Total quality management in healthcare organizations depends on the major stakeholders that will be involved in the quality control process. They are not only public health officers and administrative managers of the hospitals, nursing houses, clinics and rehabilitation centers but also the suppliers who provide the above mentioned health care organizations with all the necessary things including food, medications, clothes, and so on. (Kaluzny et al., 1992, p.261)
It is also very important to mention that all the medical staff should work in teams. The success of the use of Total quality management in health care organizations will depend on the ability of all the stakeholders to meet the appropriate requirements of the improvement process. Besides the above mentioned stakeholders, there is one more group whose interests are considered to be the most important in Total quality management process – the patients. The interests and requirements of the patients should be taken into consideration by the health care providers.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES THAT ARE SUCCESSFULLY USED BY HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES
Nowadays, the competition between different healthcare providers in healthcare industry for market share and a great deal of changes in healthcare system require “to maintain tight cost controls”. That is why it is very important to use special quality improvement strategies which will help to improve outcomes. Strategic planning is the major component in the process as it helps “to maintain position in an ever-changing market”. (Barrett, 2011, para.2)
The following quality improvement strategies provide successful transition to Total quality management in healthcare organizations:
• transition plan;
• human resource management;
• information management.
Transition plan is very important for “gradual implementation of quality principles”. It is related to all the health personnel: physicians, hospital board members, managers and others. It is also necessary to create long-term goals for a period of 5-6 years and short-term plans. This process helps employees to understand their participation in achieving the major goals of their health organization. (Barrett, 2011, para.3)
Human resource management is very important for successful implementation of Total quality management programs. Different recognition programs, and compensation packages should be revised for teamwork. The employees should be motivated by new educational programs and technical training in order to perform their duties better. ( Barrett, 2011, para.4)