Quality control circles in the Veterans Administration hospital

In response to residents’ reports of inefficiencies in the Veterans Administration (VA) system, a temporary task force of quality control circles was implemented at a VA hospital. A total of 25 internal medicine residents, on rotation at the VA, were subdivided into four groups. Each group was presented with a different problem, given the components and constraints of the problem, and asked to identify possible solutions. Program results were submitted to the hospital administration. Efforts are now being made to improve the working environment for medical residents.