Applying QFD in a Managed Care Organization.Business & Marketing Essay

Applying QFD in a Managed Care Organization
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In 1983, QFD (quality function deployment) was introduced in the United States with an aim to improve the quality of products and services while keeping the prices to a minimum. From a health perspective, quality function deployment is all about the provision of best care facilities to the patients at no extra costs. However, the applications of quality function deployment in the healthcare industry are limited as the product of healthcare is intangible and inconsistent (Cannon, 2012).
A well-managed healthcare organization contracts doctors and nurses who promise to devote themselves wholly to the wellbeing and betterment of patients. Sometimes medical equipment companies and pharmacies are also involved in the process based on how many patients are admitted to the hospital and what types of treatments or medications are required. Such a healthcare organization regularly markets its services and continues enrolling new physicians, surgeons, nurses and laboratory technicians. The aim is to provide quality care to all of the patients without any discrimination and extra charges (Roblin, 2013).
Once enrolled, all members are provided with a handbook that explains when and how to avail of the equipment provided by the hospital to serve patients in a better way. With the passage of time, this handbook has become the primary and one of the significant sources of information regarding what type of care facilities should be provided to the patients and how doctors and nurses can play their role in this regard (Zwanziger, 2002).
The focus has always been on the following aspects:
1 Evaluating the case history of patients and determining their requirements (Cannon, 2012).
2 Measuring the importance of medications or treatments (Cannon, 2012).
3 Rating the customer satisfaction, according to the rules and regulations mentioned in th...