Conferences
Harmonizing and Integrating Quality Improvement Approaches in the Context of Health Systems?
The goal of the forum was to use country examples to explore harmonization and integration of quality improvement initiatives and the link to health systems strengthening. The first QI Forum took place on June 19th – 20th 2014.
The proliferation of different quality improvement (QI) approaches, and the need to adapt them into local country and organizational contexts has been highlighted by several researchers (Atun 2012; Massoud et. al. 2012; Sax & Marx 2013). The need for clarifying differences and similarities in QI approaches to maximize their benefits is also a topic of debate in the literature (Walsche 2009, Tawfik 2010) and in various countries (Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Tanzania). But what mechanisms exist to drive this harmonization, and what is the experience of attempts at harmonization and integration of QI initiatives? Would improved harmonization of QI approaches have the potential to increase sustainability and strengthen health systems?
Forum sessions: The importance of quality improvement initiatives within Global Health • Harmonizing and Integrating Quality Improvement models – what’s the problem? • Country Case Studies • Health System Strengthening & link to Healthcare Quality/Quality • Management Challenges to harmonization and solutions? • How would harmonization of QI approaches increase sustainability and strengthen health systems?
Event spotlight
Speakers: Sylvia Sax • Charles Shaw • M.L. Dramé • Rashad Massoud • Svetla Loukanova• Sandy Kubaj • Irmgard Marx • Joachim Szecsenyi • Michael Marx
Speaker: Charles Shaw
Key note: The importance of quality improvement initiatives in Global Health. "My terms of reference are usually about technical interventions, such as performance indicators, clinical audit or hospital standards, at provider level. But quality systems at this level have little impact without corresponding policies, leadership, coordination and change at regional and national level“ - Charles shaw.