Bureaucratic control mechanisms and the implementation of quality improvement programmes in home health agencies
- 1 January 2001
- journal article
- Published by Inderscience Publishers in International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management
- Vol. 3 (2/3/4) , 274
- https://doi.org/10.1504/ijhtm.2001.001108
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between structural characteristics of home health agencies and the adoption of continuous quality improvement (CQI) technology. Home health services are the fastest growing component of the US healthcare system. Concerns regarding quality management derive from the remote service delivery modality and the heavy reliance on paraprofessional staff. Results of a survey of 361 agency directors indicate that, in contrast to observations in the hospital industry, the implementation of CQI in home healthcare is facilitated by increased formalisation and standardisation of work processes. These bureaucratic mechanisms may provide requisite structural integrity for adoption of inherently decentralising CQI programmes.Keywords
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