Which aspect of Quality Management is focused on ongoing quality enhancement?

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is fundamentally centered on the concept of ongoing enhancement of processes and outcomes within an organization. This approach emphasizes incremental improvements through systematic, data-driven efforts. By focusing on continuous evaluation and refinement of practices, CQI aims to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and improve overall service delivery.

The essence of Continuous Quality Improvement lies in its commitment to regular assessment, feedback loops, and the involvement of all staff in identifying areas for improvement. This means that rather than only meeting minimum standards or specifications, the organization seeks to constantly elevate the quality of its services or products.

In contrast, options like Quality Assurance and Total Quality Management have different primary focuses. Quality Assurance generally involves setting and overseeing standards to ensure that established procedures and regulations are followed but may not emphasize ongoing improvement as much as CQI. Total Quality Management incorporates broader organizational practices and philosophies towards quality, but again, it does not embed the same relentless pursuit of improvement characteristic of CQI. Infection Control focuses specifically on preventing and managing infections, which is essential in healthcare settings, but it does not cover the overarching goal of continual enhancement present in Continuous Quality Improvement.