Philippine Standard time

Institutionalization of Quality Assurance Program at the LGU-Managed Health Facilities: Focus on the Family Planning Provision (Quality of Care Practicum on Population and Health, Phase 2)


The Institutionalization of Quality Assurance Program Project (IQAPP) was a sequel to the successful Quality of Care Assessment Capacity Building Project (Research Practicum on Population and Health, Phase 1). The IQAPP was a response to the recommendations of Phase 1 participants (a) to orient health-care providers on the Principles of Quality Assurance (QA), and (b) to carry out capacity-building activities related to the institutionalization of quality-improvement initiatives at the local health facilities. As a program, the IQAPP had macro-level and micro-level components. The macro-level component, specially the training and capacity-building activities, yielded positive results. Through the IQAPP, the Sentrong Sigla Movement was introduced in key areas of the country. A compilation of training modules, an accompanying facilitator’s guide and Sentrong Sigla assessment tools (with the DOH team) have been completed. Moreover, the basic training and capacity-building activities were reported to have resulted in the participants’ increased knowledge and skills for implementing QA intervention, as well as an increased appreciation of the standard assessment for health facilities of the family planning program service provision. Operations/action research at the Baguio Health Department (BHD) and at the pilot health facilities were undertaken for the micro-level components. Recommendations were: (a) Continuation of capacity-building activities and QA programs in both public and private health sectors, local health organizations, and non-government organizations, specially in economically and socially disadvantaged areas. These capacity-building activities and QA programs would contribute to a culture of quality among health service providers. (b) Expanding the research projects to other cities to test the validity of the study’s conclusions and to determine sustainable mechanisms for integrating quality assurance in the routine activities of health facilities and of the local health department.

Citations

This publication has been cited time(s).