Quality of Health Care has emerged as an integral and major component of people’s right, though there has been considerable improvement in terms of infrastructure, skilled human resource and increased budgetary allocation; quality of services still remains an issue.
Quality Assurance (QA) refers to the planned and systematic activities implemented in a quality system, so that quality requirements for facility’s service will be fulfilled. Quality Standard refers to set of requirements, which are essential to ensure that the service delivered, leads to desired outcomes, as well as ensures users’ safety, comfort and satisfaction. The need for improving quality of care in health institutions and installing a patient centric environment has gained strength. There is a need to provide optimum support to those concerned with quality assurance in the institutions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the services rendered. The improvements in service quality will help in achieving programme objectives, also lead to client satisfaction and therefore increased utilization of services being offered.
The Quality Improvement & Quality Assurance Cell, the reorganized and modified version of erstwhile Hospital Development Team came into existence in 2013 as per the Operational Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Public Health Facilities of Government of India. The primary role of the Quality Improvement & Quality Assurance Cell is to facilitate implementation of Quality Standards at all Public Health Facilities beginning with DHH leading to improvement and sustenance of Quality Health Care with emphasis on RMNCH+A services. Ensuring Quality of Services rendered will result in greater utilization of services improved patient care & greater clientele satisfaction.
Objective
The objective of QA and QI is to facilitate establishment of an inbuilt and sustainable Quality Assurance Mechanism in the Public Health Facility in order to create an ambience where patients are extended prompt & effective healthcare with privacy and dignity. Setting up quality standards, Measurable Elements & Checklists: to provide consistently high quality services. The foremost requirement is to set quality standard against which the performance can be measured.