What does quality mean to me?

Quality can mean any number of things. One could philosophically claim that quality is whatever an individual deems ones comfort level is when defining quality. A short answer in an economic exchange between two parties could claim quality is any product or service created or performed with care and attention to detail in an effort to provide the best product or service. But, in all actuality it depends on the context in which the question is being asked.

For the context of this course in healthcare we focus on what quality means when applied to this arena. Quality in healthcare encompasses key components that all relate to the delivery, safety, and well being on an individual. Healthcare quality is the total sum of these components expressed in the empirical outcomes for the patient.