What is the main goal of a quality improvement program in healthcare?

The main goal of a quality improvement program in healthcare is to enhance patient care and outcomes. Quality improvement initiatives aim to systematically improve the processes and systems within healthcare to ensure that patients receive the highest standard of care. This involves analyzing current practices, identifying areas for improvement, implementing changes, and measuring the impact of these changes on patient outcomes. By focusing on enhancing patient care, these programs promote safer, more effective, and more efficient healthcare delivery, ultimately leading to better health results and increased patient satisfaction.

In contrast, reducing the number of patients treated does not align with the objectives of quality improvement, as it can lead to decreased access to necessary care. Increasing medical billing revenue may occur as a secondary effect of improved patient care but is not a primary goal of quality improvement. Similarly, limiting consultations to specialists only would not necessarily lead to better patient outcomes and could hinder comprehensive patient care. Therefore, the focus remains on enhancing patient care as the central tenet of any quality improvement initiative in healthcare.