What is the main focus of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)?

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) centers around the systematic enhancement of healthcare processes. This approach involves regularly assessing workflows, patient outcomes, and overall service quality to identify areas for improvement. By employing data-driven strategies, CQI aims to promote incremental changes that lead to better efficiency, effectiveness, and patient safety within healthcare settings.

The essence of CQI lies in its iterative process, which encompasses planning, implementing, measuring, and adjusting based on feedback and results. It fosters a culture of ongoing improvement, encouraging teams to engage in problem-solving and innovation.

While enhancing patient satisfaction can be an outcome of CQI initiatives, the primary objective is broader than just patient satisfaction. CQI affects various aspects of healthcare delivery, ensuring that all processes are continuously optimized for better overall quality. Thus, the focus is not solely on complying with regulations or maintaining the status quo, but rather on proactively seeking ways to refine and elevate the quality of care delivered to patients.