ISOIZING A HOSPITAL - WHERE TO START

Abstract

There is no doubt that hospitals will achieve considerable benefits, including significant cost reductions and improved quality of care, treatment and services, by implementing an ISO-9000 compliant quality management system. However, for most hospitals this will not be a quick and easy transition. Hospitals operate in a highly regulatory and punitive environment that encourages and rewards quick fixes. Unfortunately, quick fixes are not conducive to the creation of highly integrated processes that are effective and efficient.

This presentation will identify a few of the more significant issues a hospital faces in transitioning to an ISO 9000 quality management system and explain why it's necessary to have a well thought-out plan for each very early in the project. Also, some approaches being used by Quality Systems Integration to address these significant issues will be presented.

Quality Systems Integration

QSI has been delivering engineered management systems to its customers since 1999. With several ISO compliant systems in place for both ISO 9000 and ISO 14000, QSI began focusing on the Healthcare Industry in 2001 and has been actively defining, documenting and implementing an ISO 9000:2000 compliant Quality Management System (QMS) at a 200 bed acute care facility since June of 2002. Through this experience, a strong ISO background, an engineering approach to system development and a focused design, build and verify phase, QSI customers are assured of realizing process performance improvement, reduction in waste, reduced cost and an enhanced ability to exceed customer's expectations and thereby meet their goals and objectives.

Bios

David N. Briggs, CIC, CRM spent much of his business experience as owner/operator of an Independent Insurance Agency. With a special interest in risk management, David pursued integrating ISO 9000 into the family of QSI products in order to meet the needs of various manufacturing companies. This effort expanded into several service industries, including healthcare. David's designations and certifications include Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Certified Risk Manager (CRM), ISO-9000 Internal Auditor and Plexus certified IWA-1 trainer/coach. David is currently a member of the Professional Insurance Agents Association, the American Society for Quality and the ASQ's Product Safety and Liability Prevention Interest Group. David is also past president of the Board of Trustees for the Presbyterian Homes for Central New York and has over 18 years of experience with the healthcare industry in these various capacities.

Louis J. DiOrio, Sr. has a BSME from Clarkson University, an MSME from Syracuse University and has worked extensively in Product Development, Concurrent Engineering, Quality Assurance, Advanced Reliability & Quality Engineering and Test Equipment Engineering in the Aerospace Industry a well as teaching Concurrent Engineering, Statistical Quality Control, ISO 9000, Engineering Economics and TQM Practices at the college level. Lou's involvement in Quality Systems Integration, Inc. (QSI) brings an "engineered system" approach to QSI developed management systems. Lou's belief is that you must have a clear understanding of the system's requirements in order to design a management system, which will achieve your expected outcomes. Lou is a member of the American Society for Quality and is the recipient of an American Society for Quality Control Award for Dedication to Quality in 1987 and an American Society for Quality Control Award for Quality Education in 1997. Lou was also published in the September 2004 issue of Quality Progress with his article on Implementing ISO 9000:2000, A Proven Way.