Assessment of quality of care in vascular surgery and the emergence of quality improvement programs

A commitment to continuously improve the quality of services provided lies at the heart of clinical practice in the 21st century. Vascular surgery has been going through significant changes through the introduction of new technologies and expanding evidence-base for timing and efficacy of vascular surgical interventions. Consequently, there has been a necessity to improve quality, safety, effectiveness and cost efficiency of systems of care which deliver vascular surgical services. This review discusses the theories relevant to quality improvement in healthcare and how they have been used in vascular surgery to improve outcomes and quality of care following vascular intervention.