CQI uses an organizational process, whereby teams of workers will pinpoint and address problems in their work performance. When implemented throughout the business, CQI can create a continuous stream of performance improvements, which will exceed or at least meet patient expectations. Essential to CQI are five dimensions: (1) customer focused, (2) data-based decision making (3) process focus, (4) employee empowerment and (5) organization-wide impact. CQI upholds the opinion that if you understand and address the causes that create discrepancy in clinical and administrative processes, such as high readmission rates and long wait times, will produce greater patient care quality and organizational performance (Buchbinder & Shanks, …show more content…
The process starts with executives, such as a CEOs, then filters downwards throughout the company and is recognized in levels or belts. Senior executives (vice-president level) are called Champions. Master Black belts are the IT or full-time technical employees; they are the leadership and training staff, who oversees quality improvement assignments. Black belts can include staff supervisors also. Green belts are those who manages specific projects; yellow belts are staff that go through training programs and have project experience and white belts are staff who have little knowledge, has no project experience but completed a Six Sigma basic course (Buchbinder & Shanks, 2014). Many studies have given credit to the implementation Six Sigma in improving the quality in health care. One study by Parker and colleagues ' (Vest & Gamm, 2009) to examine antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery showed substantial improvement in getting and administering prophylaxis to patients. Other research has shown successful results from various Six Sigma strategies in radiology scheduling, improved hand hygiene compliance, decrease in infections, better surgery turnaround time, reduced delays and operating room output (Vest & Gamm,