CQI for imaging services: Part II, Obstacles to success.

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) as an operations philosophy is quickly gaining acceptance in the American healthcare industry. But despite successes with this type of program in Japan and certain American industries, the quality improvement process is not problem free. In fact, there will be obstacles for many who implement such a program. For example, changes in work systems frequently stimulate emotional reactions from those affected. And while fear, apprehension and resistance can be addressed by the radiology manager, lack of corporate and administrative support will limit or prevent a CQI program's success. However, radiology managers must overcome such problems to survive in today's healthcare environment.