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A voluntary safe table to help competitive organizations collaborate on improving quality

Miriam Marcus‐Smith (Washington Patient Safety Coalition, Seattle, Washington, USA)

Clinical Governance: An International Journal

ISSN: 1477-7274

Article publication date: 9 August 2011

294

Abstract

Purpose

Four Washington State associations came together to form a novel organization in response to rising healthcare sector costs, coupled with the need to ensure efficient provision of high quality care that improves health outcomes. This article seeks to explain the work and progress of that organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The article takes the form of a historical narrative.

Findings

The initiative has evolved from reliance on grants to becoming self‐funding, expanded the scope of its activities, and satisfied the needs of the stakeholders.

Practical implications

This organizational model is more efficient than going it alone on every effort, and may be a desirable solution for other communities.

Originality/value

This is the first published description of a unique, non‐profit organization founded in 1998, which can serve as a model for other regions that wish to promote collaborative benchmarking among competitive independent health care providers.

Keywords

Citation

Marcus‐Smith, M. (2011), "A voluntary safe table to help competitive organizations collaborate on improving quality", Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Vol. 16 No. 3, pp. 252-259. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777271111170616

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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