What kind of outcomes does quality improvement seek to address?

Quality improvement encompasses a comprehensive approach that seeks to enhance both positive and negative outcomes. This holistic focus aims to not only promote favorable results, such as improved patient satisfaction and better health outcomes, but also to identify and mitigate negative outcomes, including adverse events and inefficiencies in service delivery.

By addressing negative outcomes, quality improvement initiatives can prevent harm and continuously refine processes to uplift the overall quality of care. At the same time, acknowledging positive outcomes allows organizations to reinforce effective practices and ensure their sustainability.

A narrow focus on only positive or negative outcomes would limit the effectiveness of quality improvement efforts. Therefore, adopting a dual approach enables healthcare organizations to foster a culture that continuously improves overall health services and outcomes for patients.