| Transforming
Quality Circles in CGH |
| |
Changi General Hospital
(CGH) introduced a new Quality Circle (QC) system
and structure in 2003 to enhance its existing QC
structure. With the change, staff can choose from
three types of projects instead of just one. Two
new project
types — Quick and In-House projects — have been added.
The report templates for the two new categories of projects are much simpler.
For instance, staff working on Quick and In-House projects are only required
to complete a 4- to 6-page report, as compared to NQCC (National QC Carnival)
project reports which are 15 pages long (see table for more details).
The main purpose of adopting the new framework is to encourage a higher level
of staff participation, and to allow staff to effectively focus on doing the
projects without having to spend too much time writing the reports. The flexibility
of the framework also allows staff to inject creativity and innovation into their
projects. Presentations at the In-House Forum can be in any creative form, including
skits, PowerPoint presentations, exhibiting the actual product and singing.
A staff who joined a QC for the first time said, “I find the Quick and
In-House templates simpler to use compared to the NQCC one. It is faster to implement
and is more effective in helping our team to solve problems.”
In 2003, CGH completed 18 Quick and In-House projects. This was a commendable
effort, given that the staff had to deal with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome) last year.
The new QC system comes with a new set of rewards. Staff are given credits based
on the type of project and the award achieved. The credits accumulated can be
exchanged for attractive prizes. |
| |
|
|
Maximum
no. of members* |
Report
length |
Timeframe |
Approval
for implementation |
Presentation |
|
Quick project
|
5 |
4
pages |
3
months |
HOD
(Administrator’s approval is necessary
when cost exceeds $2,000) |
- |
| In-House
project |
8 |
6
pages |
6-9
months |
In-House
Forum
(with option of presenting at NQCC) |
|
NQCC project
|
8 |
15
pages |
6-9
months |
Division
Administrator |
NQCC
and/or national convention |
|
| *
The number of members includes the leader but
not the facilitator. |
| |
| |
By
Quality Management Office, CGH
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