Quality Circle in Primary Care

Quality circles (QC) can be applied in the primary care setting in health care. Small groups of medical professionals from similar background meet at a regular interval to discuss and review their clinical practice. “Numerous studies suggest that QCs improve individual and group performance in terms of costs, ordering of tests, prescription habits, and adherence to clinical practice guidelines, thus resulting in better patient outcome measures and changes in performance indicators” (Rohrbasser, 2013).

In a primary care setting, all members of the QC are coming from similar backgrounds with voluntary participation. It is important to have a trained facilitator who can engage the members of the group, support the selection of the issues, reviewing information, and find solutions. Quality circles in the primary care setting can be apply to improve medication prescribing patterns. A study done in Germany show that the quality circles reduced the proportion of patients who received a prescription, and the was a reduction on the mean prescription costs per patient, which an increase on the proportion of generic drugs.

Another example of QC in health care is to improve the outcome of pediatric diabetes care. According to Holl (2002), the outcome of diabetes care for pediatric patients  is still inadequate, and the rate of severe hypoglycemia are less favorable in children and adolescents compared to adults with diabetes. Quality circles enable open discussions on how to organize patient care and approach controversial questions allow the transfer of knowledge and attitudes across all the circle members which will result in better care for pediatric patients with diabetes.

Reference

Holl, R., & Grabert, M. (2002). The quality circle: how to improve the outcome of 

         pediatric diabetes care. Hormone Research, 57 Suppl 1105-109.  

         http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy1.ncu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?nobk=y&

         sid=1d5c664d-6d16-4aeb-8170-8f915aaeab0f@sessionmgr110&vid=4&hid=101

Rohrbasser, A., Mickan, S. & Harris, J. (2013). Exploring Why Quality Circles Work in 

         Primary Health Care: a Realist Review Protocol. Systematic Reviews Journal. 

         2(110). doi:10.1186/2046-4053-2-110