Quality Assurance vs Quality Control

Quality assurance is a set of systematic activities implemented within the quality system that can be demonstrated to provide confidence that a product or service will fulfill requirements for quality. Quality assurance is not only required in healthcare accreditation but is used as a preventative measure for deviations in processes or products which is necessary to obtain American accreditation. The quality assurance management team should have an objective of preventing defects and that all processes are followed according to the company’s standard operating procedures. A standard operating procedures manual is best for achieving the goals of a quality assurance program and necessary for healthcare accreditation. It should layout the steps of each process that employees must follow. American accreditation requires the manual should have maintenance and operation procedures. It is used as a tool to prevent deviations from standardized or validated processes. Quality assurance activities include process documentation, checklists, validations, reviewing cleaning records and certificates of analysis, and many other activities that would contribute to preventing errors.

Quality control, another tool required in obtaining American accreditation, identifies when quality standards are not met in processes or products and it can be made through testing or inspection. Quality control is important in detecting deviations prior to release of a product. Implementation of excellent quality control measures is critical in healthcare accreditation for any quality assurance program. The standard operating procedures should properly be identified of what is expected in a product or process. It is important for a member of the quality assurance consulting team that is not involved in the process to monitor and evaluate the process to verify it conforms to the standard operating procedure. Quality control activities should be ongoing for effective quality products and processes.

Quality Assurance Accreditation in Healthcare

It is not easy to overstate the importance of quality assurance accreditation in healthcare. Every healthcare organization establishes some sort of internal standards and rules for operations. However, accreditation ensures that your organization meets regulations and standards set by a recognized external organization.

Quality assurance accreditation acts as an external stamp of approval on your organization, showing that you follow industry standards and best practices. It is a form of external review that shows that a healthcare provider is meeting regulations and standards set by an external accreditation organization.

For a healthcare organization to achieve accreditation, they must prove compliance with the standards. This involves a rigorous review process, in which industry experts survey the organization’s structures and policies. 

The purpose of quality assurance accreditation in healthcare is to strengthen your organization and prove that you provide high-quality care. Achieving and maintaining accreditation provides benchmarks for measuring how your organization is doing. The process helps you maintain compliance with healthcare laws and regulations, and keep up to date with industry standards.

Some benefits of quality assurance accreditation in healthcare are:

• Improved quality of care.
• Increased community confidence.
• Better operational efficiency and processes.
• Receive shared policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Obtain insights and transparency through external review.
• Reduced liability insurance.
• Gain competitive advantage.

Achieving and maintaining healthcare accreditation gives you a clear picture of how to constantly improve your organization for years to come.