Quality health care is the provision of appropriate services to individuals and populations, that are consistent with current professional knowledge, in a technically competent manner, with good communication, shared decision-making and cultural sensitivity.
Quality healthcare is evidenced based; increases the likelihood of desired health outcomes and uses a systems approach to continuously improve clinical, operational, and financial domains. The six "Aims for Improvement" to achieve quality health care as set forth in the Institute of Medicine's 2001 Report Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century are: 1) Safe, 2) Effective, 3) Patient-Centered, 4) Timely, 5) Efficient and 6) Equitable.
Quality improvement activities are broad organizational efforts which cut across all aspects of health center functioning and positively impact patients as well as every employee, regardless of their role.
Quality improvement activities might be related to Joint Commission Accreditation, or to National Patient Safety Goals or other patient safety initiatives, risk management activites, and/or other quality improvement efforts including the former Health Disparities Collaboratives.
In Utah, 100% of community health centers have participated in at least one HRSA Health Disparities Collaborative and 73% have attained accreditation by the Joint Commission. Utah health centers also participate in other quality improvement efforts, and constantly strive to provide optimal care for all patients.
AUCH promotes sustaining and expanding clinical quality improvement activities within all member organizations. Quality improvement activities in Utah include immunization rates, care for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and depression as well as the organization of the health care system among other activities. These organziations strive to achieve excellence in practice through the transformation of clinical practice via the Care Model, improved health outcomes for under-served populations, and the development of strategic partnerships.
AUCH assists its member organziation in the following areas:
