Findings of innovation research applied to quality management principles for health care.

We asked health care professionals to identify and prioritize barriers to implementing TQM in their organizations. Lack of evidence of TQM success was a commonly listed barrier. In response, we drew from research in the innovation literature that identifies factors that distinguish successful from failed efforts to innovate and improve. Applied to TQM principles, innovation findings overwhelmingly support customer and quality mindedness. To a lesser degree other principles are upheld, suggesting future research in the area.