Book excerpt: As healthcare reform continues to transform US healthcare delivery and processes, one thing remains the same: the importance of quality. This book brings together a team of internationally prominent contributors who provide expertise on current strategies, tactics, and methods for understanding quality in a comprehensive way. The book provides a solid foundation on the components and importance of quality, while incorporating techniques to continuously improve and transform a healthcare system. This comprehensive textbook is suited for undergraduate and graduate courses in healthcare administration as well as business, nursing, allied health, pharmacy, and medicine programs. Study questions in each chapter facilitate additional discussion.