Framework Specifications for Evaluation of Quality Improvement and Sustainable Development in Healthcare Facilities ^†

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to establish the specifications of an analysis and evaluation model in the form of a reference framework for the design, development, implementation, periodic evaluation, and continuous improvement of quality management systems based on the application of national and international standards for sustainable development in healthcare facilities. It integrates the existing legal requirements, standards, and quality assessment indicators from actual frameworks. Its structure is based upon the Plan-Do-Check-Act quality cycle, on the three pillars of sustainable development—social, economic, and environmental—incorporated in the seven basic topics of social responsibility mentioned in ISO26000.

1. Introduction

A lot of research has been performed on quality improvement methods over the last decade, which developed a wide range of evaluation instruments, statistical tools, and methods of improvement. There are a large number of clinical and non-clinical interventions that have the effect of improving the quality of care. However, this reality is inconsistent with the continuous variations in quality and safety, which are constantly reported by media and scientific literature. For quality professionals that are responsible for planning, implementing, maintaining, and control of quality management in healthcare facilities at the organizational level, the abundance of information on quality and safety approaches is a complication.

The large number of quality improvement interventions is overwhelmingly high. The main decision is: what to begin with, but also how to integrate a multitude of tools into a coherent approach?

The motivation of this research is to support the management of health units in the alignment and use of these strategies and tools. Importance is accorded on cross-cutting matters such as supervision and guidance, the construction of assistance systems for quality improvement, and the provision of the adequate resources assuring high quality care. Healthcare specialists, quality professionals, and general managers can use this approach to periodically assess and continually improve the quality of their organization.

The general objective of the research is to establish the specifications of an analysis and evaluation model in the form of a reference framework for the design, development, and implementation, periodic evaluation, and continuous improvement of quality management systems based on the application of national and international standards for sustainable development in healthcare facilities.

2. Materials and Methods

The research methodology considers the study of the specialized literature, relevant for the research topic, which allows the creation of an adequate framework for the development of the empirical study.

The foundations of high quality healthcare systems must include: (a) a population and their health needs and expectations,(b) the governance of the health sector, and (c) partnerships between sectors, healthcare platforms, the number and skills of the workforce involved, as well as the tools and resources used, from medicines to data. High quality healthcare systems should adopt four values:

(a)

Be for people;

(b)

Be fair;

(c)

Resilient; and

(d)

Efficient.

Sustainability can be considered an area of the quality of healthcare, extending the responsibility of health services provided to patients from now to the future. A sustainable approach extends the definition of the value of healthcare to measure healthcare outcomes in terms of social and environmental impact, but also in terms of financial costs. Mortimer et al. [1] established a practical framework for including these new dimensions in an already well-defined quality improvement model. The current trend is to collaborate between actors involved in healthcare, called collaborative healthcare, which has the capacity to address challenges such as improving the social sustainability of the system. Maghsoudi et al. [2] developed a new model of medical organization in which collaboration between medical networks plays a central role in improving social sustainability.

Improving quality can promote the association between health security and healthcare systems; through integration of quality improvement approaches addresses global health security priorities and has the effect of improving health results at in all structures of the healthcare system [3]. Marimuthu et al. [4] explores the scope of sustainability practices in healthcare by highlighting three main conceptual aspects: the dimensions of sustainability practices in healthcare, the drivers of sustainable health practices, and strategies for implementing sustainability effectively in healthcare. Smith [5] highlights three levels of sustainability in which he describes the levels of healthcare with the appropriate measurement of performance through audit techniques.

Pantzartzis et al. [6] highlight issues that can lead to small sustainable health institutions, such as energy saving and efficiency, that could be used to assess the viability of healthcare facilities. In a study, Glasgow [7] identified 539 potential articles on quality improvement methodologies and found that the true impact of this approach is difficult to assess, given that the lack of a rigorous evaluation or clearly supported improvements offers little evidence supporting widespread adoption. There is still a need for future research to improve the evidence base to understand more.

Currently, health facilities face major challenges, as patients demand continuous improvement in the quality of care, and health insurance companies demand the lowest possible prices. There are quality improvement programs from the industry, such as lean manufacturing, which is an excellent tool to meet current health challenges [8]. Some hospitals tend to adopt lean quality improvement programs, which require a lean assessment from a much more critical perspective [9] and quantification of sustainability effects [10]. A theoretical framework for sustainable health improvement developed by Hovlid et al. [11] is based on four main themes: (a) the question, (b) the decision, (c) the relationship, and (d) the interpretation.

In Romania, the national legislation on quality assurance in health has important references: Law no. 185/2017 on quality assurance in the healthcare system [12]; Standards, procedure, and methodology for evaluation and accreditation of hospitals [13]; and Legislation on the functioning [13] and working tools [14] used by the National Authority for Quality Management in Health. Hospital accreditation standards [15] comprise threereferences: Strategic and organizational management; Clinical management; Medical ethics and patient rights, which are supplemented by 64 checklists.

3. Results

This research proposes the development of a SANitary Quality (SANQ) reference framework containing a series of indicators addressed to health units that have implemented/are implementing quality management systems in their organizations and want to continuously improve the effectiveness of the quality management system by establishing quality indicators to monitor and promote their sustainable development. The conceptual model of the SANQ reference framework is presented in Figure 1, which integrates the existing legal requirements, standards, and quality assessment indicators from actual frameworks.

In terms of quality cycle references, and in order to simplify its relationship with the already developed quality frameworks, the SANQ quality reference framework has to be structured based upon the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) quality cycle: planning, implementing, evaluating, and review. It should be developed also taking into consideration that the healthcare system can and should have a key role in the promotion of social cohesion and should also pursue financial sustainability and environmental responsibility.

The reason to adopt this conceptual model lies on the principles stated in ISO 26000, in regards to the definition of sustainable development and social responsibility—sustainable development is the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [16]. Social responsibility is “the responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, through transparent and ethical behavior that: contributes to sustainable development, including health and the welfare of society; takes into account the expectations of stakeholders; is in compliance with applicable law and consistent with international norms of behavior; and is integrated throughout the organization and practiced in its relationships” [17].

For this reason, the SANQ reference framework has to be structured on the threepillars of sustainable development—social, economic, and environmental—incorporated in the seven basic topics of social responsibility mentioned in ISO26000—Guidelines on social responsibility [17], adapted to the context of healthcare provision: Organizational governance, Human rights, Labor practices, Environment, Fair operating practices, Consumer issues, Community involvement and development, as shown in Figure 2.

In this way, the SANQ quality reference framework will be structured in four main phases, each of them corresponding to the four phases of the PDCA quality cycle, regarding healthcare: design of healthcare services, provision of healthcare services, evaluation of healthcare services, continuous improvement.

The extended applicability of the reference framework requires a correspondence between the SANQ indicators and the Standards for the evaluation and accreditation of hospitals provided in Order no. 446/2017 issued by the Ministry of Health [18].

The reference framework should consist of several matrix assessment tools that will be structured in line with the DUQuE project results [19]: (1) Accreditation of healthcare services, (2) The effectiveness of the organization’s management, (3) Continuing medical education, (4) Patient safety culture, (5) Computerized support systems for clinical decisions, (6) Dissemination and implementation of guidelines, (7) Actions to improve transfers, (8) Patient-centered care actions, (9) Six Sigma and Lean, (10) Performance information, (11) Audit and feedback, (12) Reporting incidents to the hospital, (13) Safety checklists, (14) Documentation internships etc.

SANQ evaluation indicators are of a qualitative and/or quantitative type—which are described by formulas.

The SANQ quality reference framework will be accompanied by the Implementation Guide—The self-assessment tool, which will have threeparts: (1) The SANQ reference framework, (2) The self-diagnosis tool, (3) The implementation guide.

The self-diagnosis tool will consist of a system of questions derived from the SANQ reference framework, whose assessment is made on the basis of a qualitative (poor to excellent) and/or quantitative grid (0 to 3 points). It will facilitate easy use by quality professionals in healthcare facilities.

4. Conclusions

This research provided the specifications for a reference framework that aims to evaluate and improve quality and safety in healthcare facilities. The elaboration of the indicators of the reference framework requires state-of-the-art research, the use of the results of large-scale scientific studies, systematic reviews, and specialized knowledge.

Such research does not cover all quality strategies, but rather provides a perspective to support managers in reflecting on organization-wide approaches to ensure quality, safety, and sustainable development.

The widespread use of the assessment tool requires interactive links to specific assessment tools from the literature as well as those generated in this research.