Healthcare Quality Improvement and Cost Management

Healthcare quality improvement and cost management are integrated approaches to enhancing patient outcomes while optimizing resource utilization. This topic covers methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management (TQM) applied to clinical and administrative processes to reduce waste, errors, and variability. For Zambian university students in public health and healthcare management, balancing quality and cost is essential in a resource-constrained environment. It involves measuring quality indicators, conducting root cause analysis, and implementing changes that improve efficiency without compromising care standards. In Zambian hospitals, effective quality-cost management can reduce infection rates, shorten patient stays, and lower operational costs, contributing to sustainable health service delivery. This knowledge is vital for quality assurance officers, hospital administrators, and health program managers.