Strategic Quality Management: Creating Great Care.

What's on SQM this month?

 

  • QTool of the Month presents: Key Conditions for Effective Change  (See Quality Pro: Tools, Tips and Links)

  • QG3: The Five Minute Quality Guru on Quality Planning for Great Care - the latest short coaching video now available: see the Quality Pro, Coaching and Training page.

  • A preview of my new eBook: 'Create a Great Quality System In Six Months'  - see Quality Pro Blog

  • Link to a 'Bedding Down the Basics' presentation from the Australasian Safety and Quality Conference 2012: see Tools, Tips and Links.

  • Link to information on an upcoming 'Presentation Skills' webinar series to be run by the Australasian College of Health Service Managers.

  • The QBlog: 'Specifics, not generalities, improve care.'

  • Two 'QHeadlines' articles  that you can draw on to start a conversation or make a case for change - see QBlog - Headlines.

  • A link to the Qualitworks' Report for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare: Issues for Small Rural Hospitals in Implementing the National Safety and Quality Standards: see Tools, Tips and Links.

  • Purchase two copies of the SQM Handbook and receive a free 'SQM Headlines' audio CD or podcast.

Welcome!

Welcome to the SQM website: to all involved in quality, compliance, systems improvement, leadership and innovation in health and aged care.

(If you're a regular visitor, see 'What's on SQM?' this month for the latest additions.)

Are you:

  • a healthcare quality professional looking for support and ideas to enhance your role and revitalise your quality system?   
  • a healthcare executive, leader or manager wanting to recharge your organisation's quality governance to support a great experience for every consumer every time?
  • looking to develop and strengthen the quality role so it has a higher profile, greater credibility and is about more than incidents, audits and accreditation?
  • interested in new ways to motivate staff engagement in creating positive results for their patients, residents and clients?
  • considering a career in quality systems and finding it hard to find information about what this entails? 

If you answered 'yes!' to any of these, you've come to the right place! 

This site was developed because I looked for information that would support me in my quality manager role - and help me to support others in their quality management and leadership roles. I couldn't find any.

Working in healthcare quality for over two decades,  as a quality manager, policy maker, executive and consultant, I've been involved with hundreds of quality managers - most of whom needed specific support, advice and information at least once in their careers. Healthcare managers and executives also seek information to assist in recruiting and developing their quality managers. This can be hard to find. There's plenty of information around about managing quality and risk, but hardly anything about developing and managing the quality/risk/governance role.  We now know a lot about what works and doesn't in healthcare quality - and yet I constantly see quality managers reinventing wheels and experiencing the same frustrations and challenges.  

Why 'Strategic Quality Management'?  Because too many quality and governance systems in healthcare are still add ons, rather than essential components of the service.  At one end of the spectrum, a quality system can just be a set of activities to get a service through accreditation; at the other end it is part of an organisation's strategic vision and the vehicle for creating a great consumer experience.  

The SQM website is the place to find information about how to turn your quality system into a strategic driver that achieves tangible benefits for staff and consumers; and to  get some support for developing, enhancing and enjoying the challenging, important and rewarding quality role. This is the website about creating great care - the one I wish I'd had access to when I was starting out!

Dr Cathy Balding.

The Strategic Quality Manager Handbook

The Strategic Quality Manager Handbook, ebook or audio CD contains information for quality managers – and those managing quality managers – to help develop their roles to be more effective – and satisfying.  Available in hard copy and e-book, with a one hour summary of the key points available on audio CD or MP3.

 

'With Chapter One I already feel understood and inspired and am setting about reviewing the quality system and pulling a clearer framework together. Thanks...' (Rural Hospital Quality Manager.)

'This very comprehensive and informative book... fills a gap in the contemporary resources available...and it will be a wonderful guide for current and aspirant quality managers. Balding's extensive policy and practice knolwedge and experience in healthcare quality management authoritatively underpin this thoroughly researched guide.' (Kerin Robinson, Head Department of Health Information Management, La Trobe University.)

Read More

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Strategic Quality Management | Quality Management System

Quality Pro Communique

A monthly Newsletter to support Quality Managers and Leaders to Create Great Care.

The newsletter briefly discusses a different improvement-related topic each month, including the latest information and practical hints and tips for anyone involved in creating great care. Take a look at Edition 1 under the Quality Pro Program - Communique Signup - tab.

To receive the free SQM Newsletter, enter your name and email address below:

What you will find on SQM.

  • The Strategic Quality Manager Handbook (also in ebook and summary 'Headlines' audio CD/MP3 file) defines the quality manager role, shows how to develop it to a strategic level and describes the most important components of the QM toolbox.
  • The Quality Pro Program is where you'll find handy tools, tips and links, including the Q Tool of the Month.  All of these resources have been selected because they are clear and practical, and based on research or experience from credible sources. Don't reinvent the wheel!  This is also where you can source Training videos and information on Mentoring and Coaching.
  • My free book chapter '5 Essential Skills for 21st Century Quality Managers'; and, for Australian Quality Managers, tips and information on meeting the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards - also found under Tools, Tips and Links.
  • Quality Pro Blog: covering topics of interest - and challenge - to quality systems managers, clinicians with quality management roles - and their managers.  New blogs posted regularly. Join the conversation! 
  • Under the Quality Pro Blog tab you'll also find QHeadlines: articles and reports that tackle the challenging side of creating great care. Use these to start conversations in your service and to make the case for positive change.
  • Quality Pro Communique is the free monthly email newsletter, covering a different Quality related topic every month.
  • Qualityworks Consulting where you'll find information on services available through Cathy's consulting business.

New material is added at regular intervals - visit often to check out new information  - and get your dose of QM support.