Quality management in a staff model HMO.

Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound is gradually developing a quality management approach to the delivery of health care. Derived from the strong commitment of its medical staff and operations management to providing optimal health care and building on the best aspects of traditional quality assurance, the quality management approach provides a realistic program that makes a meaningful difference to the quality of patient care. This paper describes the various components of the evolving approach including physician performance management, departmental activities, multidiciplinary review, and the activities of the centralized office of quality of care assessment and regional quality action committees.