Includes bibliographical references and index.

Foundations of health care quality -- Understanding the impact of health care reform -- Making the case for change -- New challenges for health care professionals -- Improving patient safety -- Working with quality tools and methods -- Working with quality data -- Working with quality and safety measures -- Translating information into action -- Preparing for the future.

Today's health care professionals must work with new models and incorporate complex data into their everyday practices. Introduction to Health Care Quality is a practical resource for students and professionals that explores the issues of quality management in today's rapidly changing health care environment. Written by an expert in the field, this text includes clear guidance on both the new and the perennial challenges to the field. The author reveals how to conduct and make sense of statistical analyses, monitor care objectively with databases, link financial and quality variables, and improve care with established quality methodologies. Introduction to Health Care Quality contains a wealth of real-world issues of quality in action and includes information on the direct application of quality management theory, methods, and tools. The author defines the concept of "quality" in the context of a variety of health care situations and settings and puts the focus on assessment, monitoring, analysis, and improvement.

Text in English.