Question

Agencies for Quality:

Write a one-page summary of what the agency does, who it affects, and how it is utilized.

Answer 1

Quality plays a very important role in every sector. It is the quality that determines the standards of work being carried out by a company. There are multiple quality agencies across the globe- country specific, which help deal with certain issues. The main goal of these agencies, specially in the health care sector is to strengthen the organization and provide high quality care. The process implemented help to maintain compliance with healthcare laws and regulations and keep up to date with industry standards.

Lets briefly discuss on what does the agency do and who it affects and how is it utilized.

What does the agency do

The main characteristics of an agency are :

• Mission- general objectives of the institution.
• Structure- paying particular attention to the relationship with the Ministry of health(level of autonomy or independence)
• Target institutions or population groups for the agency activities and services
• Funding
• Information management: generated information and its availability

The activities of the agency contribute to increase -organizational capacity for quality, to build leadership for quality, patients and population involvement.

Activities related to an ‘information system for quality’ are grouped into three sections:

1. Collection and analysis- of  information that may come from existing resources or it may be the result of the analysis of primary sources available to the agency in order to conduct its own investigation. Some agencies create and propose indicators and other tools to measure and monitor health outcomes and quality care.
2. Transmission and dissemination- publishing, presenting and making available information to the general public and health professionals. It includes appropriate recommendations on best practices for ensuring healthcare quality.
3. Counseling- evidence-based guidance and advice given objective and independently to governments, health authorities and decision-makers; including guidance on best practices for health professionals and advice for patients and users.

Ultimately, the common purpose of this activity is to generate evidence for responsible and informed decision-making for the agencies target groups, responding to their needs. Some of these activities intersect with the strategic component of building organizational capacity for quality.

Funding-For most analyzed agencies, funding comes from the public budget, either directly or through the ministry of health.

Information management- Only half of the agencies had a dedicated section on the management of generated information. Although the common message is to facilitate access to information, the treatment each agency gives to this section is unique and different, frequently related to the country's legislation on this matter.

Who does the agency affect

• It affects the safety and quality of health care provided.
• It affects the teaching and training healthcare professionals to catalyze system-wide improvements in care in a positive way and thus helps in the identification of problem areas and catalyze quality improvement.
• It helps reduce the number of patient deaths and saves the health care costs in billions.

How is it utilized

• The tools, knowledge and data that agencies develop and funds are foundational to creating a health-care system that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered.
• Its contributes in creating a higher-performing health system by :

- Investing in research and evidence to understand how to improve the safety and quality of health care

- Creating materials to teach and train health-care professionals to catalyze system-wide improvements in care

- Generating measures and data used to track and improve performance and evaluate progress of the U.S. healthcare system

As discussed above the agencies for quality play an important role in maintaining and providing a good quality care, eduction, improvising the teaching practices and many more.