11th May, 2011.
Introduction
Total Quality Management (TQM) can be defined as a progressively essential tool in managing and evaluating the overall performance of an organization (Vijande & Gonzalez, 2008, p. 38). The program ensures that quality in the services offered or end-products manufactured is maintained. TQM has received much attention globally and many practitioners are embracing the new philosophy with the aim of being able to evaluate the overall performance of various organizations most specifically, the philosophy is very vital in that it can single out individual performance in an organization (Valmohammadi, 2011, p. 874). Research has proved that organizations that have continuously focused on quality evaluation and improvement have had their employees motivated which consequently have resulted to improved performance (Hotamisli, Yildiz & Aleren, 2011, p. 274). TQM shapes business performance by developing a sequence of competencies (Maghani, 2011, p. 34). Moreover, Maghani debates that the overall performance of an organization can be assessed through the following four basic sectors; the general outcome of the man-power employed, the general feedback obtained from the customers or clients, and the economic implications (Fields & Roman, 2010, p. 1637).
Hemodialysis is one of the remedies employed in treating patients with renal failure for example, in patients whose kidneys have failed to excrete waste metabolic materials like urea, SPOGT, creatinine and ammonia. Hemodialysis has been on the rise in recent years and studies have shown that since 1960 many medical practitioners have embraced the ideology. Despite the progressive advancement in treatment of renal failure using hemodialysis, much concern has emerged in regard to the quality of the service. Even though much improvement has been made in relation to mechanization of the process, the process still remains a nightmare to many practitioners due to its complicated nature. The remedy requires a well coordinated effort emanating from the entire medical bench especially, from the dialysis nurses, dieticians and nephrologists.
Empirical studies have shown that medical practitioners in Greece and many other countries have failed in maintaining quality when performing hemodialysis procedures (Andreopoulou et al, 2009, p. 319). As a result many patients have had to suffer consequences due to medical malpractices. In spite of all these setbacks, TQM policies have helped hemodialysis clinics in maintaining quality both in developing and developed countries including Greece. As a matter of fact, these TQM policies have not completely been synchronized in Greece due to reluctance of various parties to implement the policies. Moreover, stringent policies in the clinical sector have actually been derailing enactment and implementation of Total Quality Management policies. This has called for organizational change in order to be able design and implement these new policies. Therefore, it is apparent and very clear that Greece needs more than ever to design and implement TQM policies to effectively evaluate quality of hemodialysis (Stavrianou & Pallikarakis, 2007, p. 204).
Despite Greece having an inconsistent number of stations for treating end-stage renal disease (ESRD), there has been a substantial increase in number of patients requiring hemodialysis. In providing this service, quality needs to be maintained within the health sector to ensure that patients receive the best of the practice (Kaba et al., 2007, p. 868). Consequently, to maintain quality, various TQM strategies need to be reinstated.
This paper explicitly focuses on Total Quality Management and its importance to hemodialysis clinics in Greece. Moreover, the paper evaluates the significance of organizational change in order to successfully implement TQM policies.
Methodology
This paper basically employs empirical methods in analyzing the extent and impacts of Total Quality Management Policies in Greece. This entails both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Design
Grounded hypothesis and theory was employed in obtaining knowledge regarding how hemodialysis victims experience dialysis. The technique is very vital in studying regions where little research has been done in the past (Glaser and Strauss, 1967). This theory helped in answering questions regarding the main causes of the disease in a region where less is known about the disease.
The Questionnaire Method
200 Patients were randomly selected from 10 hemodialysis clinics in all the selected regions of Greece. Questionnaires were prepared and evenly distributed on all the targeted hemodialysis clinics. Within a ten month period (between January to December, 2004), all the targeted patients were called upon to take part in the survey. In the study, 200 patients were requested to participate in the study but only 180 turned up for the study which represents a response rate of 90 %. Apart from patients, clinical practitioners were also interviewed and given questionnaires to fill. Practitioners interviewed included hemodialysis nurses, dieticians and nephrologists. The clinical practitioners that participated in the study were selected randomly from hemodialysis clinics in which patients were selected.
Questionnaires were distributed within the 10 month duration. Some patients that participated in the study were still under hemodialysis therapy while others had long recovered from the condition. Research organizers interviewed patients who experienced difficulty in completing the questionnaires may be due to physical disabilities or opted for interview method.
The questionnaires for patients were primarily used to collect qualitative data. They asked questions regarding the duration of time taken to recover, the efficiency of the therapy and the costs incurred. On the other hand, questionnaires for dialysis clinical practitioners were both qualitative and quantitative. They entailed empirical data ranging from the quality of the technique in treating renal failure to its efficiency. Moreover, clinical practitioners were interviewed on their opinions in regard to the quality of the method in treating patients with renal failure.
Secondary Data
Data on patient management was also collected from the selected hemodialysis clinics. Moreover, data was obtained from national health records on management of hemodialysis patients.
References
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