Jacquelyn R. Steele, MA, cPhD                                    C.E. Barth, MA, Sp.Psy.S., MLLP

Jackie Steele and Ed Barth managed this important project.  Jackie is currently in an Industrial/Organizational

Psychology doctorate program.  She has experience in HRD and organizational surveys.  Ed, a former School Psychologist, served as a staff psychologist at an ICF-MR facility; before retiring, he presented a paper on

“ICF-MR I-Teams as Self-Managing Employee-Involvement Teams” at the 1990 AQP Conference in Cincinnati, OH.

On behalf of people with disabilities and special needs, we thank those who completed this survey!

Frequency, descriptive, and content analyses were conducted on an organizational survey.  Survey data were collected from 65 healthcare processionals all over the United States.  The survey was intended to be a program evaluation to see where a particular area of the healthcare industry is currently.

Regardless of the small sample size, the results suggest that this area of the healthcare industry is in need of change.  CQI tools and techniques should be a fundamental practice and does not appear to be, at least with this section of the sample.  Furthermore, PCP approaches should be practiced daily with clients but a majority of the respondents indicated that they do not.

Content analysis of the open-ended items indicate dissatisfaction in the field ranging from training to poor management.  Respondents indicated that they try to do their best with their clients and practice quality, but do not receive enough support from management or the organization.  It is evident by the results that more work needs to be conducted in this area not only for the well-being of the employees, but for the clients as well.

Table 1. Percentages of Dichotomous Survey Items

Item

N

% Yes

% No

Have you received training in CQI tools and techniques?

56

21

79

If you have received training in CQI tools and techniques, do you use the following: 

     Deming’s Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle?

24

13

87

     Run Charts?    

24

13

87

     Scatter Diagrams?

26

12

88

     Flowcharts?     

27

22

78

     Pareto Charts?     

25

4

96

     Histograms?     

25

16

84

     Control Charts?     

26

15

85

     Cause and Effect or Fishbone Techniques?     

25

12

88

     Discrepancy Analysis?

24

25

75

     Affinity Diagrams?     

25

0

100

     Interrelationship Digraphs?     

25

4

96

     Tree Diagrams?     

25

8

92

     Matrix Diagrams?     

25

8

92

     Prioritization Matrices?     

25

4

96

     Process Decision Program Charts?     

25

0

100

     Activity Network Diagrams?    

25

0

100

Item

N

% Yes

% No

Have you been trained on the following person-centered planning (PCP) approaches: 

     Individual Service Design?     

59

68

32

     Personal Futures Planning?     

60

65

35

     McGill Action Planning System (MAPS)?     

58

26

74

     Essential Lifestyle Planning?     

60

45

55

     Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH)?     

58

26

74

Item

N

% Yes

% No

     Individual Service Design?     

59

76

24

     Personal Futures Planning?     

59

56

44

     McGill Action Planning System (MAPS)?     

57

12

83

     Essential Lifestyle Planning?     

59

34

66

     Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH)?     

57

9

91

Do you serve on your facility’s Behavior Management Committee?

33

64

36

Do you serve on your facility’s Human Rights Committee?

34

59

41

Do you have a personal copy of Appendix J with W-Tags?

33

55

45

Do you have access to a copy of Appendix J with W-Tags?

33

79

21

Have you received training on Appendix J with W-Tags?     

33

46

54

Item

N

% Always

% Often

% Sometimes

% Rarely

% Never

     Enjoy being a PCP team member?

59

27

46

22

5

0

     Feel that being in this team will help you acquire skills?

58

9

45

41

2

3

     Trust the other people in your team?

57

12

63

25

0

0

     Feel that being a PCP team member helps you do your job  better?

56

18

54

29

0

0

     Cooperate with other PCP team members?

58

24

55

19

2

0

     Cooperate with your clients in the attainment of their goals?

58

47

45

9

2

0

Item

N

% Always

% Often

% Sometimes

% Rarely

% Never

For each item, please mark the response that best  represents your opinion on how you rate your leadership skills.

In general, how often do you:

     Maintain integrity?

63

57

43

0

0

0

     Know your job?

63

49

51

0

0

0

     Declare your expectations?

63

25

54

21

0

0

     Show uncommon commitment?

63

33

49

14

2

2

     Expect positive results?

63

52

44

3

0

0

     Support your team members?

63

41

54

5

0

0

     Place duty before self?

63

27

67

5

2

0

     Show initiative?

63

38

57

5

0