What is Quality?

The definition of quality is the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind.  I agree with this as increased quality is basically an improvement or a better version of what is being referenced to. Many people base quality off of how much something cost or the value of it, but as you can see from our PowerPoint lecture the U.S. spends more per capita than any other country and still receives the worst scores on many of the “true” measures of quality. Those measures we scored the worst on as a country are:

·         Satisfaction with system

·         Continuity of care

·         Access to primary care at weekends/holidays

·         Out-of-pocket costs (i.e. highest)

·         Not getting necessary care and non-compliance because of costs

·         (Dis)Satisfaction with emergency room care

·         Doctor-patient relationships

·         Also relatively long waiting times for primary care appointments

In my line of work, working in the restaurant industry, a quality experience for a guest is comprised of many things. Guests are not receiving quality just by going to an expensive restaurant. Every guest need to be treated with a great deal of respect, and their service has to be received at the proper pace for them as well. Once the exceptional service is given, then you would add a nice atmosphere and excellent, fresh, high grade food and any person in any restaurant paying any price would be receiving a “high quality” dining experience

It’s just the same in the health care industry. I know anytime that I am a patient, I consider myself receiving quality care when I am treated in an appropriate time, given increased effort, given good service and treated with care and respect. I think the major problem causing the lack of quality to be laziness or un-supervision. Professionals showing these characteristic are usually the ones making the errors and causing the lack of quality in our U.S. healthcare system.