The National Quality Assurance (QA) Program of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Chile is a robust example of the institutionalization of quality assurance at a national level. The program has achieved outstanding results since its inception in 1991. The program is now sustainable, with a goal of quality held by all levels of health providers within a decentralized system. There is an integration of regulatory methods throughout the health system. Regular monitoring of process performance is in place, with health providers establishing administrative and health standards and collecting data on corresponding indicators.
A large cadre of QA coaches has been trained and is active in all QA activities nationwide. Nearly 20% of the MOH civil servants have received QA training, and a collection of 19 training modules was established for the continuous training of new staff. A dissemination system was implemented, including an annual QA conference, and an annual “quality month.” Incentives are also in place, including awards for outstanding performance.
Several activities still need to take place: defining new strategic goals; establishing an entity at the MOH level which integrates and coordinates various QA activities while avoiding the duplication of tasks; focusing on problems corresponding to national health priorities; involving more physicians in QA activities; benchmarking QA projects within the country; changing from an informal leadership to a formal one; reinforcing the supervision system; and instituting methods for communicating standards.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Quality Assurance,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.