Quality Improvement: origins, purpose and the future for veterinary practice

Rooke, Freya; Burford, John; Freeman, Sarah; Mair, Tim; Suthers, Jo; Brennan, Marnie

Abstract

Providing the highest quality veterinary care can often be a delicate balancing act: the client/owner’s wishes, financial parameters and emotional needs have to be considered, whilst also meeting the animal’s clinical needs. But what actually defines quality care? It is a term frequently used in both the human and veterinary healthcare literature, but often has little explanation or definition attached to it. ‘Quality’ in relation to care delivered is not a static concept and will hold different meanings to different individuals within a healthcare service. John Ruskin, a Victorian writer and critic of art and society observed: ‘Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skilful execution’.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 5, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: May 20, 2021
• Journal: Veterinary Evidence
• Publisher: RCVS Knowledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.18849/ve.v6i2.358
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5521538
• Publisher URL: https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/358