QUALITY IN OCCUPATIONAL-HEALTH CARE - MANAGEMENTS VIEW

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a continual improvement process that requires common sense, education and training, and the ability to communicate and work as part of a team. TQM can improve all aspects of a business, including health, safety, and environmental functions. Physicians and nonphysician managers can use TQM to identify and respond to customer needs and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of programs. Examples of TQM to improve medical programs have included (1) an Audit Program that assesses medical programs and provides specific measurements (''metrics'') of medical programs, and (2) a team that developed an Alternative Return-to-Work Program, which now assists in early rehabilitation of injured employees. In addition to expecting its physicians to be knowledgeable, fair, and objective, management expects them to use and understand TQM principles.