Quality improvement and top management in nursing homes

Abstract

This study examines how the demographic characteristics of the top management team in 236 nursing homes can affect the adoption of QI techniques. Tenure, education, and involvement in a professional society are the demographic characteristics investigated. Controlling for 13 organizational and environmental factors, the results show both aggregate levels and dissimilarity in educational experience and professional involvement of the top management team have a significant effect on the likelihood of a home adopting QI. We discuss these results in terms of their significance for nursing homes and top management.