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QUALITY ASSURANCE v TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT “QA IS A NOUN AND TQM IS A VERB” (Spath 1991) The above statement, coined by Patrice L. Spath (1991) probably most simply illustrates, the almost tangible, differences between the concepts of Quality Assurance and Total Quality Management. Quality Assurance is a noun as it has a beginning and an end; it tends to have a finite number of steps and can be seen as an absolute. Total Quality Management is proactive and is continually striving to improve, best evidenced in the Japanese description of a concept of continuous quality improvement. Unlike quality assurance, it does not stop when certain steps are completed but constantly looks at means of upgrading current, or adding new methods to ensure or exceed customer satisfaction. This constant, dynamic process, that quality is a continuum, has also been compared to development of a garden by Helga Drummond (1992) where she states that: “Creating a garden requires vision, planning and the disciplined application of skill and effort. Success favours the patient and the conscientious. The same applies to TQM; It too must be planned, the ground prepared etc, and like planting a garden, it takes time……. Like a garden, TQM is never finished” (Drummond 1992 p. 14) This essay will examine quality assurance and total quality management in more detail, critically analysing the key differences. We will analyse also, the implications of each for the organisation, the client, the standard and consistency of care and the limitations of each in relation to healthcare. Consideration of these objectives will centre on examining both concepts in relation to: philosophy responsibility for quality focus benefits limitations Philosophy Quality Assurance is grounded on compliance to a set of specifications.
Approximate Word count = 1060
Approximate Pages = 4.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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