Quality in healthcare is about providing the right care, at the right time, in the right way, to the right person, to get the best possible health outcomes for individual patients and populations.
A commonly used description of healthcare quality (from the US Institute of Medicine) is care that is:
- Safe – avoiding injuries to patients from care that is intended to help them
- Timely – reducing waits and sometimes harmful delays
- Effective – providing services based on scientific knowledge and refraining from services not likely to benefit
- Patient centered – providing care that is respectful or responsive to individuals’ needs
- Efficient – avoiding waste
- Equitable – providing care that does not vary regardless of personal characteristics.
Accreditation is one way a healthcare organization can demonstrate its commitment to patient safety and quality improvement. Accreditation is a process in which a healthcare organization is assessed by an external agency against a set of standards designed to promote a culture of safety and to continually improve the processes and results of healthcare. There are a number of internationally recognized accreditation agencies, such as the Joint Commission International (JCI), Accreditation Canada and the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).
Patient Safety is about preventing harm that is caused to patients when receiving healthcare, through medical errors, healthcare-acquired infections and other adverse events. Patient safety is an important aspect of quality healthcare.
Quality Department 
Quality Management