PROQUALI is an initiative designed to improve the quality of reproductive health services at the primary health care level in the public sector in the states of Bahia and Ceara in northeastern Brazil. It consists of health centers that meet and are accredited through a pre-established and standardized set of quality criteria for delivery of services. Utilizing a comprehensive approach, which goes beyond training to focus on the actual improvement of clinic performance, PROQUALI seeks to ensure that health providers not only are equipped with the necessary technical knowledge and skills but are also motivated and enabled to perform their work at the desired level. The regulatory role of the state is strengthened through concrete tools to assess quality and performance. Resource allocation for health at the local level is enhanced based on objective quality criteria developed by the project.
PROQUALI results show the advantages of combining and integrating a performance improvement approach with a clinic accreditation processes to maximize access and quality at the service delivery level. Performance improvement methodologies and tools help providers and health organizations to achieve the goal of clinic accreditation and finally improve service quality and coverage.
Learning Objectives: After attending this presentation, the participant will be able to: 1. Identify the essential components of the performance improvement process. 2. Describe the linkage between clinic accreditation and the performance improvement process
Keywords: Performance Measurement, International Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: jhpiego
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.