Integrating quality management into clinical systems: tools for achieving clinical integration.

This article describes the use of quality systems as a tool for managers of health-care clinical services to establish a common framework across the different disciplines in the continuum of care. Quality systems used internationally in the manufacturing and service sectors are applicable to multidisciplinary clinical systems management because the essential elements of quality are universal. These elements have been redefined into health-care terminology and can be used by clinical systems managers as a basis for implementing a quality system. The structure for documents in a quality system also has been adapted to health care and allows for a common set of quality policies and processes to unify the different clinical services. By using a consistent quality management approach and documentation, managers can transcend technical operational differences and ensure effective clinical integration.