Application of quality function deployment launches to enhancing nursing home service quality

Abstract Lately, thanks to the prosperity brought by economic development, medical standards are progressing and people are living longer than before. The average lifespan in Taiwan increased to 74.6 years in 1988, an increase of 0.3 years since 1993; simultaneously however, the population of 65 years old or older in Taiwan is rapidly increasing, reaching 1,990,000 in 2002, representing 8.9% of the total population, making Taiwan an ageing society according to definition set out by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the Yunlin County of Taiwan, the proportion of the population over 65 years was 10.8% in 1998; the ageing index is 53.5, which ranked a high fifth among the Taiwan area (the highest is in Penghu County, 70.9, while the lowest is in Taipei County, 27.8). A highly aged population is associated with large-scale health problems, and thus, the need for nursing homes or organizations is rapidly growing. However, the quality of existing nursing homes/institutes is variable. Notably, the main pur...