In the case of healthcare, cars and electronics,
reliability is a very important dimension, as is durability.
Performance is important when it comes to you car,
and also when it comes to healthcare providers and medical equipment.
Aesthetics often encourage consumers to purchase a new car.
A well designed hospital lobby, modern clinic facilities, and clean,
attractive rooms, may encourage patients to choose a specific clinic or hospital.
However patients need to understand, that just because a hospital
has a beautiful lobby, does not mean the medical care will be of high quality.
And later we will discuss the key quality measures that all patients should
investigate, before trusting their lives to a healthcare system.
When it comes to healthcare, these dimensions pale in comparison to safety.
As Mary's case exemplifies, and as the annual rate of death and
life altering injuries emphasizes, safety is a critical dimension in healthcare.
And because it is deemed the vital characteristic of quality,
safety is mentioned as a separate noun.