Total Quality Management (TQM) of the Clinical Laboratory; Improving Patient Care

Background: Public and private pressures to contain cost and improvement of test result require that the clinical laboratories adopt new systems for managing quality.

Objectives: To review the management process for improving the quality of all aspects of laboratory operations.

Method: Application of the concept and principles of total quality management.

Result: The users of health care laboratories are satisfied with the quality of laboratory service and their expectations are met by the laboratory performance. This enables faster and more accurate diagnoses and in turn, faster recovery of patients and shortened hospital stay.

Conclusion: Total quality management of the Clinical laboratories is an absolute necessity for monitoring performance that satisfies the needs and expectations of users and patients.