Improvement Cymru Academy Toolkit Guide: Reliability

Summary

Reliability refers to the capability of a process or object to perform its intended function over time under specified conditions. Reliability is a concept from everyday life. When we undertake a process, we expect the process to produce the same correct results every time we follow the process. There are processes in everyday life that we expect to be reliable e.g., a washing machine cleaning clothes, a car turning on every time we put the keys in the ignition. When applied to a healthcare setting, reliability refers to the right patient receiving the right treatment, in the right place at the right time. Our processes must be reliable but also capable of achieving this outcome. This guide explains when and how to use reliability.