The presence of quality exists in
many realms pertaining to health care. Individuals seeking medical treatment and
services have a predetermined level of quality, or satisfaction, that they have
come to expect and desire in the United States health care complex. The real
perplexing dynamic facing health care organizations’ is that there is quality
on so many levels from when an individual enters a facility, to when they exit.
Quality factors of waiting (room) times, competence of doctors and staff,
in/outpatient rooms, supplies, cleanliness, service or treatment, discharge,
and more all contribute to an individual perceived level of quality.
The
health care quality definition is multidimensional and has a different meaning
to every individual. A native New Yorker may be unsatisfied with the quality of
health care received in California at the same time a Texan appreciates the
very same level of quality. The entire health care quality experience is
subjective. This being said, health care quality is the perceived level of
overall satisfaction based on a combination of an individual’s entire experience
of interactions, comforts, inconveniences, treatments, and progress of a
medical situation from start to finish at any health care organization.
The
cost of health care in the United States is expensive and the medical capabilities
available for a number of disorders are vast. There should be high levels of
quality because of the cost many Americans pay for health insurance, or (worst
case scenario) out-of-pocket. The health care organization administrator has a
large responsibility to oversee the multiple staff departments that are
contributors to quality, while at the same time maintaining the costs as close
to (or below) the budget as possible. The quality “balancing act” in the United
States pits overcharged patients versus underfunded health care organizations
and at times, either entity may lose out in one way, shape, or form.
Nationwide
or regional industry health care quality standards are the closest technique to
gauge or evaluate a particular health care organization’s customer, or patient,
quality satisfaction. The most effective method to provide adequate and
superior quality in the health care realm is to go above and beyond patient
expectations while staying inside budget parameters.
