Quality improvement focuses on which outcome?

• A. Services.
• B. Costs.
• C. Staffing levels.
• D. Patient satisfaction only.

Answer: (A)

Quality improvement aims to enhance the care actually delivered to patients—the services provided. It focuses on improving the processes, systems, and overall delivery of care so that it is safer, more effective, timely, patient-centered, efficient, and equitable. While costs and staffing levels can influence how well services are delivered, they are resources behind the service itself, not the primary target of QI. And while patient satisfaction is an important outcome, it’s only one aspect of service quality, not the sole focus. So improving the services—the care experiences and processes patients receive—is the central goal of quality improvement.