Managing healthcare quality using logical framework analysis

• Published in: Managing service quality 2006-03, Vol.16 (2), p.203-222
• Main Authors: Dey, Prasanta Kumar, Hariharan, Seetharaman, Brookes, Naomi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case studies; Emergency medical care; Health care; Health services; Hospitals; Integrated approach; Intensive care; Methods; Morbidity; Mortality; Patients; Performance evaluation; Project management; Quality improvement; Quality management; Quality of service; Strategic planning; Studies; Trauma
• ISSN: 0960-4529; 2055-6225; 1758-8030; 2055-6233
• DOI: 10.1108/09604520610650655

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated quality management model that identifies problems, suggests solutions, develops a framework for implementation and helps to evaluate dynamically healthcare service performance.Design methodology approach - This study used the logical framework analysis (LFA) to improve the performance of healthcare service processes. LFA has three major steps - problems identification, solution derivation, and formation of a planning matrix for implementation. LFA has been applied in a case-study environment to three acute healthcare services (Operating Room utilisation, Accident and Emergency, and Intensive Care) in order to demonstrate its effectiveness.Findings - The paper finds that LFA is an effective method of quality management of hospital-based healthcare services.Research limitations implications - This study shows LFA application in three service processes in one hospital. This very limited population sample needs to be extended.Practical implications - The proposed model can be implemented in hospital-based healthcare services in order to improve performance. It may also be applied to other services.Originality value - Quality improvement in healthcare services is a complex and multi-dimensional task. Although various quality management tools are routinely deployed for identifying quality issues in healthcare delivery, they are not without flaws. There is an absence of an integrated approach, which can identify and analyse issues, provide solutions to resolve those issues, develop a project management framework to implement those solutions. This study introduces an integrated and uniform quality management tool for healthcare services.