scholarly journals Mental health and general practice:Improving linkages using a total quality management approach

1998 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Tobin ◽  
Gus Norris
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Ongoing Care

This paper reports on a project to implement total quality management strategies toimprove the linkages between general practitioners and specialist mental healthservices. The project implemented a process of change and objectively assessed thesuccess of the process. The project involved all mental health staff (n = 100) in theSt George Division of Psychiatry and Mental Health. General practitioners registeredwith the St George Division of General Practice were invited to participate in thechange process. The project showed that the attempts to engage general practitionersin the ongoing care of patients with chronic mental illness is unlikely to be successfuluntil mental health services promote general practitioner linkages as an ongoing servicegoal, relevant at all levels of delivery.

scholarly journals Influence of Total Quality Management on Students’ Academic Achievement in Public Secondary schools in Ifakara Town Council

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-171
Author(s):  
Joy Kakingo ◽  
Chrispina Lekule
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Total Quality Management ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Educational Goals ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Total Quality ◽  
Town Council ◽  
Educational Stakeholders

The issue of quality education has become one of the major concerns among government leaders, policymakers and various educational stakeholders. Yet, the application and usefulness of Total Quality Management (TQM) in public secondary schools in Tanzania has remained vague and at times problematic. This study examined the benefits of implementing TQM for the improvement of students’ academic achievement in public secondary schools. For the purpose of this study, Total Quality Management refers to a management approach in which the school's departments, resources and activities are deliberately organized to improve quality and achieve pre-determined educational goals. In conducting this study, a mixed research approach with the convergent parallel design was adopted. Data was collected through interviews and open-ended questionnaires involving 112 respondents from four public secondary schools in Ifakara Town Council, Morogoro, Tanzania. The findings indicate that TQM improves classroom instruction, contributes to employees’ continuous improvement and promotes teamwork among organization departments. Likewise, the findings indicate that TQM enhances good leadership and encourages goal setting in the organization which leads to students’ academic achievement. The paper concludes with recommendations on the interventions to be adopted as a means of promoting the effectual implementation of TQM in public secondary schools. Heads of schools as key implementers of TQM are encouraged by this study to utilize the available resources to promote quality services as well as establishing a model for TQM implementation for students’ academic achievement

Improving Community-Based Services for Older Patients with Depression: The Benefits of an Educational and Service Initiative

2001 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Mutch ◽  
Margaret Tobin ◽  
Ian Hickie ◽  
Carolyn Mutch ◽  
Margaret Tobin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Educational Initiative ◽  
Improvement Project

Objective: The objective of this study was to report a quality improvement project for older patients with depression. The initiative focused on both clinical practice changes (improvement of medical, neurocognitive and behavioural assessment) and service development (greater continuity of care). Method: After initial identification of key deficits, implementation of a service and educational initiative took place within a district mental health service. The service consisted of an inpatient unit, a specialized psychogeriatric service and two adult community mental health services. Mental health staff received education regarding the specific needs of older patients with depression and were provided with assessment materials, patient education and treatment aids. General practitioners participated in shared long-term management. Results: Following graded implementation, the management of 44 subjects (mean age = 65.4 years, 91% female) recruited over an 8-month period was reviewed. Compared with 99 subjects (mean age = 68.9 years, 69% female) from the earlier 12-month assessment phase, there were significant improvements in medical (43% to 92%), neurocognitive (37% to 84%) and behavioural (e.g. suicidal ideation: 78% to 100%) assessments. Similarly, relevant laboratory investigations (neuroimaging: 21% to 67%) and communication with general practitioners (73% to 97%) improved. The most change occurred in the adult community-based treatment services. Conclusions: A coordinated management and educational initiative resulted in marked improvement in basic medical and psychiatric assessment and more integrated care. These changes did not require expansion of specialist services.

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