Dimensions of Healthcare Quality

The dimensions of healthcare quality refer to various attributes or aspects that define the standard of healthcare services. These dimensions are used to evaluate, measure, and improve the quality of care provided to patients. A comprehensive understanding of these dimensions ensures that healthcare systems can address various aspects of patient care effectively and holistically. Dimensions of Healthcare Quality and Performance of care include the following; Appropriateness, Availability, Competence, Continuity, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Efficacy, Prevention, Respect and Care, Safety as well as Timeliness.

1. Healthcare Quality 
Dimensions
Quality / Performance of Care
Naeem Shahzad
https://www.linkedin.com/in/naeem‐shahzad‐b6b28b7/

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Quality/ Patient Care? "Patient care quality is the degree to which patientcareservicesincreasetheprobabilityof desired patient outcomes and reduce the probability of undesired outcomes, given the
currentstateofknowledge."
Board of Commissioners, The Joint Commission

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Dimensions Of Quality Healthcare/ Performance
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Appropriateness
Availability
Competence
Continuity
Effectiveness
Efficacy Efficiency
Prevention
Respect & Care
Safety
Timeliness

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Appropriateness
The degree to which the care 
and services provided are 
relevant  to an individual ‘s 
clinical needs, given the 
current state of knowledge.

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Appropriateness Example
Providing physical therapy for 
a patient recovering from 
knee surgery instead of 
unnecessary imaging tests 
when physical examination 
and patient history are 
sufficient to guide treatment.

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Availability
The degree to which 
appropriate care and 
services are 
accessible and 
obtainable to meet 
an individual’s needs.

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Availability Example
Ensuring that mental health 
services are available in a 
community by having 
sufficient numbers of 
therapists and counselors 
who can offer appointments 
within a reasonable time 
frame.

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Competence
The practitioner’s 
ability to produce 
both the health and 
satisfaction of 
patients or 
customers 

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Competence Example
Having healthcare providers 
with up‐to‐date training and 
certifications, such as nurses 
who are certified in advanced 
cardiac life support (ACLS) to 
effectively manage patients 
in cardiac arrest.

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Continuity The coordination of needed 
healthcare services for a 
patient or specified 
population among all 
practitioners and across all 
involved organizations over 
time

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Continuity Example
Establishing a follow‐up system 
where patients discharged from 
the hospital after surgery are 
contacted by a nurse or care 
coordinator to ensure they are 
adhering to their recovery plan and 
to address any complications.

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Effectiveness
The degree to which care is 
provided in the correct 
manner, given the current 
state of knowledge; to 
achieve the desired or 
projected outcome(s) for 
the individual

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Effectiveness
Example
Implementing evidence‐based 
protocols for managing chronic 
diseases, such as standardized care 
plans for diabetes management 
that include regular monitoring of 
blood glucose levels, dietary 
counseling, and medication 
management.

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Efficacy
The potential, capacity 
or capability of the care 
to produce the desired 
effect or outcome

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Efficacy
Example
Using lean management techniques 
to streamline the patient admission 
process in hospitals, reducing waiting 
times and optimizing the use of 
hospital resources like beds and staff 
time.

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Efficiency The relationship 
between the 
outcomes and the 
resources used to 
deliver care

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Efficiency Example
Administering vaccines that 
have been proven in clinical 
trials to prevent diseases, such 
as the measles, mumps, and 
rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is 
highly effective in preventing 
these infections.

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Prevention
The degree to which 
interventions, 
including the 
identification of risk 
factors, promote 
health and prevent 
disease

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Prevention
Example
Running community health 
programs that offer free screenings 
for high blood pressure and 
cholesterol, along with educational 
workshops on healthy lifestyle 
choices to prevent cardiovascular 
diseases.

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Respect & Care The degree to which 
those providing 
services do so with 
sensitivity for the 
individual’s needs 
and expectations

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Respect & Care Example
Training healthcare staff    to 
communicate respectfully 
and empathetically with 
patients, ensuring they listen 
to patient concerns, address 
their questions, and respect 
their cultural and personal 
preferences.

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Safety
The degree to which the 
healthcare environment 
or intervention minimizes 
risks of adverse outcome 
for both patient an d 
provider

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Safety
Example
Implementing a system for 
double‐checking patient 
identities before administering 
medications to avoid medication 
errors, such as barcode scanning 
technology to match patients 
with their prescribed 
medications.

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Timeliness The degree to which 
care is provided to the 
individual at the most 
beneficial or necessary 
time

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Timeliness Example
Developing an efficient triage system in 
emergency departments to ensure that 
patients with life‐threatening conditions 
receive immediate attention,reducing 
the time to treatment for critical cases 
like heart attacks and strokes.

26. Naeem Shahzad
https://www.linkedin.com/in/naeem‐shahzad‐b6b28b7/