Quality

1. For health plans, the general standard or grade of how well a plan keeps its members healthy or treats them when they are sick. Good-quality health care means doing the right thing at the right time, in the right way, for the right person, and getting the best possible results. 2. As defined by the Institute of Medicine, the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge. 3. Highest degree to which a product or service meets needs and expectations.

quality assurance (QA)

1. Process or activity of evaluating how well a medical service is provided. Now called quality improvement (QI) . This process may include formally reviewing health care given to a person or a group of persons, locating the problem, correcting the problem, and checking to see if the action taken worked or not. 2. Formal set of quality improvement organization (QIO) activities (formerly peer review organization [PRO]) designed to ensure the quality of medical services provided. See quality improvement (QI) .