The TQM Magazine

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the opportunities and challenges in the healthcare sector for learning and transferring from other sectors the concepts, best practices, and tools for improving quality, safety, and productivity.

Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, the various approaches for improving quality, safety, and productivity are considered. How these approaches are being used in healthcare are analyzed. The obstacles to their successful implementation in healthcare are discussed.

Findings – The paper finds that there are many approaches, best practices, tools, and technologies for improving quality and safety – which have proved their worth in other industries – that are relevant for the healthcare sector. There are some characteristics of the healthcare industry that distinguish it from other industries. Although the managerial processes in the healthcare industry are similar to those of other industries, the prevalent norms, culture, practices, and the regulatory framework can promote or hinder efforts to improve performance. These characteristics influence the extent to which the best practices in other industries are relevant and transferable to the healthcare sector.

Originality/value – In this paper, prospects for utilizing the opportunities are assessed. The paper identifies a number of obstacles to the transfer of best practices to the healthcare sector. Insights are provided into factors that are critical to addressing those obstacles. These are of value to the practitioners in healthcare and to the academics, who want to pursue further research on this topic.