Applying Quality Management in Healthcare: A Systems Approach, Sixth Edition

Introducing a Systems Approach to Quality, Safety, Analytics and Performance Improvement

Healthcare quality cannot be understood in isolation. In Sixth Edition, Richard G. Greenhill, Andrew McCart, and Neel Pathak present a broad practice-based framework for managing and improving quality, safety and performance across complex healthcare organizations.

This advanced new edition takes a systems-focused view of healthcare leadership, showing how policy, regulation, organizational culture, teamwork, strategy, measurement, analytics and technology work together to influence outcomes. Readers build a strong foundation in systems thinking, complexity, accreditation, reliability and change management before moving into applied topics such as patient safety, performance improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, digital quality measures and artificial intelligence.

With structured learning objectives, companion resources, real-world tools and extensive case studies, the book connects theory to practice at every stage. Its emphasis on practical usability helps students and emerging leaders interpret system behavior, align goals, design meaningful measures, build effective teams and lead sustainable improvement in settings where complexity is the norm.

Key Features:

• Presents a systems-first approach to quality, safety and performance.
• Connects leadership, analytics, equity, policy and improvement methods in one integrated framework.
• Reflects the realities of modern healthcare organizations and complex adaptive systems.
• Includes practical tools, cases, exercises and decision frameworks that support real-world application.
• Covers foundational and advanced topics, from change management and culture to AI and digital health.
• Supports flexible instruction with modular chapter design and clear learning outcomes.

Ideal for students and instructors in healthcare management, public health, nursing leadership and related programs, this text is especially well suited for courses in quality management, performance improvement, patient safety, healthcare operations, and systems leadership.