Improving the quality of health care involves many factors.
Probably the most commonly discussed enabler of quality is data and the associated issues about quantity, type, accuracy, etc. The role of standards and guidelines are also often referenced. And let’s not forget patient and public partnering as a critical element in quality improvement.
One element that has not had as much attention is the role of leadership. From local quality improvement (QI) efforts to broad system efforts, leadership is a key element needed to enable and sustain quality improvement. To this end QI training programs like IDEAS includes leadership as a component of the curriculum and in the United States, the Institute of Health Care Improvement has a CEO leadership alliance focused on health care.