In Chapter 1, the textbook defined reliability as "the measurable capability of a process, procedure, or health service to perform its intended function in the required time under commonly occurring conditions."

A reliable process performs as expected a high proportion of the time. An unreliable process performs as expected a low proportion of the time. Chapter 9 provides many examples that illustrate these definitions.

What does reliability mean to you? In your experience, what healthcare process have you found to be reliable? What process have you found to be unreliable? Explain what is different about the reliable process versus the unreliable process.