QE Principle
The QE Principle was originally developed as a conceptual model for measuring and balancing both “quality” and “efficiency” in the delivery of health care services. It is a needs based economic principle to guide professionals and the general public in understanding quality health care within budgetary guidelines.
"QE" is an abbreviation and symbol for the concept of "quality" and "efficiency as one entity. Our working definitions as separate entities are as follows:
Quality is the degree of performance satisfaction required to meet the needs of consumers. The higher the degree of performance satisfaction; the higher the degree of quality.
Efficiency is the degree to which a required performance satisfactorily meets the needs of consumers using a minimum amount of resources (money, time, and effort). A lesser amount of resources to provide performance satisfaction results in a higher degree of efficiency.
For our purposes, the "QE" concept is defined as the highest degree of performance satisfaction using the least amount of resources.
The QE Principle is applicable to any service industry or government organization that must balance its revenues and expenditures to meet the needs of its consumers with the intent of maximizing both quality and efficiency. For more information on the QE Principle's conceptual model and mathematical measurement formula, please contact the QE Foundation.