Abstract
With the successive reports on adverse events in healthcare, social needs for the assurance of healthcare quality and safety has been increasing.Along this line, healthcare society has initiated variety of activities for quality and safety, including joint research on application of quality concept, methodology and techniques used in industry into healthcare. Now we can say that the time has been ripe for systematization of those approaches for healthcare quality and safety, although it will be a long and winding road to reach the goal.
In order to ensure the quality and safety in general, the following six conditions are necessary;
・Motivation ： Motives incentives or driving forces for quality and safety.
・ Thought ： Fundamental ideas concepts or philosophy on quality and safety.
・Technology ： Reproducible methodology or knowledge to ensure quality and safety.
・Management ： Management mechanism for making the best use of technology, including systems, processes, procedures, and infrastructure.
・ People ： Capability, morale, consciousness, sensitivity, and awareness.
・Promotion ： Movement or drive.
Along this framework, this paper generalizes initiatives already taken and their results,and discusses “science” of healthcare quality and safety.
