Infant metabolic screening: a total quality management approach.

The principles of total quality management (TQM) were used to improve the infant metabolic screening program in a large urban hospital. Three quality indicators needed improvement; unsatisfactory specimen quality, delayed delivery to the state laboratory for testing, and specimen slips missing the date of collection. A multidisciplinary team identified the root causes of the poor quality and implemented remedies. Dramatic improvement in three infant screening indicators occurred within a 4-month period. Evaluation of the three indicators continued for the following 3-year period. Quality improvement programs that involve a multidisciplinary approach benefit the patient and staff and may reduce costs.