What is Quality Assurance and Do You Really Need It?

The answer is a resounding yes!

Quality assurance is defined as the maintenance of a desired level of quality in a service or product, especially by means of attention to every stage of the process of delivery or production.

This is the most useful tool within your company to assure the highest level of performance and patient care.

Quality assurance not only relates to final service provided, but also how your team achieves the final result. Team members are provided a performance gage for themselves and team members to pinpoint best practices and most efficient use of time. By directly effecting how your team conducts their daily tasks, quality assurance programs result in a higher productivity from your team.

Quality assurance data also emphasizes trends and procedures within your client’s organization. Targeted information can become an extremely useful tool for your customers to address any areas of concerns, thereby increasing the quality of shared data within the partnership. Increased quality from both sides can result in a highly efficient operational work flow and increased revenue and profitability.

This sounds great, but how do you achieve it?

Any successful quality assurance program must include a clearly defined set of rules and processes that promote consistency, communication and transparency.  A formalized program must be documented and understood by all team members. Implementation and continued maintenance of the program is the pinnacle of the program’s success. The guidelines within this program are tailored to fit the needs of your customer and your company objective. In radiology, this includes patient care, accurate interpretations, timeliness and adherence to technical standards.

Quality systems should be managed by a team independent of the operational side of your company. However, an effective communication system within the two departments are essential to the program’s success. The quality assurance team should continually be educated on industry standards, speak to all team members and meet regularly to review performances, track trends and adjust processes and policies based on the quality assurance data.

Quality assurance may sound simple, but it isn’t.  However, an organized effort  by your team will produce tangible results in all areas of your company.

So, does your company need a quality assurance program?

Absolutely.  It is the hallmark to ensure your success!