ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE POLICIES IN HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS IN KAZAKHSTAN
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE POLICIES IN HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS IN KAZAKHSTAN
Zhanar Sadiyeva
DBA doctoral student, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University,
Kazakhstan, Almaty
ABSTRACT
Kazakhstan currently faces a number of challenges in the health sector [1]. Despite significant improvements in recent years, the health system still faces challenges, such as limited access to quality health services in some regions, uneven distribution of health personnel, insufficient coordination between different levels of health care, and insufficient attention to patient safety issues. One of the solutions to improve the quality of health services developed by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2016 as part of the 2016-2019 State Programmer for Health Care Development. "Densaulyk", was the project "Development of Management and Corporate Governance".
As part of this project, the Health Management and Human Resources Department was established at the Republican Centre for Health Development in Kazakhstan to develop training materials on corporate policy for health organizations in the country and to provide training to health managers on corporate policy.
Corporate policy in the health sector is a set of strategies and approaches aimed at improving the quality of health services and includes the development of standards and protocols, accreditation of health-care organizations, establishment of regulatory requirements and quality control systems. The implementation of corporate policies can contribute to the standardization of procedures, the professional development of medical staff, improved accessibility of health services and patient safety.
It is important to note that successful implementation of a corporate policy requires the involvement of all stakeholders, including public authorities, healthcare institutions, medical staff and patients. Effective mechanisms of partnership and cooperation between all participants in the healthcare system need to be established to achieve the common goal of improving the quality of medical care.
In the context of health services, corporate policies may include the following aspects:
- Establishing quality standards. A corporate policy can define the quality standards to which the health services provided must meet. Formally, this translates into the availability of treatment protocols, diagnostic procedures, safety standards, qualification requirements for medical staff and other regulations that define the expected level of quality in the health-care organization.
- Staff training and development. The corporate policy may include training and development programmers for medical staff aimed at mastering modern methods of treatment and diagnosis, as well as new technologies and healthcare requirements.
- Quality control and feedback. The corporate policy may include a description of a quality control system that allows the quality of care to be monitored and evaluated. A quality control system involves monitoring quality indicators, auditing procedures, collecting patient feedback, and analyzing results to identify problem areas and make necessary improvements.
- Developing a culture of safety. Thus, it is assumed that corporate policies establish procedures and practices aimed at preventing errors, adverse events and infections, and at encouraging active staff involvement in patient safety.
- Customer focus. Corporate policies can include a focus on meeting patients' needs and expectations. Thus, the organization should establish strategies to improve the patient experience, improve communication and information, and ensure that health services are convenient and accessible.
- Employee motivation. The corporate policy should include a description of tools for motivating and encouraging staff to achieve high quality care: recognizing achievements, developing career opportunities and creating conditions for professional development.
Overall, corporate policies play a key role in shaping and managing the culture of health service delivery and in establishing structures and systems to ensure a high level of quality of care. Effective corporate policies contribute to improving the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of care, as well as patient satisfaction and staff motivation. A review of existing research on the role of corporate policies in health care confirms the importance of this aspect in improving service quality and health system efficiency. For example, a study conducted by Zhen et al (2016) in China found that corporate policies aimed at standardizing procedures, staff training and quality control had a positive impact on patient satisfaction and improved quality of care [2].
A study by Rao and Hollett (2017) systematically reviewed research articles on the impact of corporate policies on quality of care [3]. They found that effective corporate policies help to reduce errors and adverse events, improve patient safety and improve health outcomes.
These studies confirm that corporate policies play an essential role in improving the quality of care. It can include various aspects such as standardization of procedures, quality control, staff training, development of a safety culture and staff motivation.
An analysis of existing corporate policies in health care in Kazakhstan gives rise to the following conclusions:
Quality standards: Kazakhstan has now developed and approved quality standards for medical services that medical organizations must meet (Order No. KP DCM - 111 of the Acting Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 5 November 2021 "On Approval of Standards for Accreditation of Medical Organizations").
Heterogeneity: there is some heterogeneity in the corporate policies of health- care organizations. Different organizations may have different approaches and priorities for quality of care.
Limited access to information: Most healthcare organizations do not make information about corporate policies and quality of care indicators transparent and accessible. Ensuring greater access to information can help increase transparency and patient confidence.
Based on an analysis of existing corporate policies in health care in Kazakhstan, the following recommendations can be offered to improve them and enhance the quality of health care services:
Improve quality standards: Develop clearer and more specific standards for quality of care to be applied across all health-care organizations. This could include the development and implementation of agreed treatment protocols, quality control procedures and patient feedback systems.
Focus on patient experience: Pay greater attention to patient experience and satisfaction. Develop mechanisms to collect and analyze patient feedback, conduct regular patient satisfaction surveys and use the results to improve service quality.
Development of a system of continuous training and staff development: Ensure access to professional training, education and development for health care staff. Improving the knowledge and skills of staff will contribute to improving the quality of medical care.
Transparency and accessibility of information: Ensure transparency and accessibility of information on corporate policies, procedures, standards and quality indicators. This will help patients to make informed decisions and increase trust in health-care organizations.
Promoting innovation and the use of modern technology: Promote the introduction of innovative diagnostic, treatment and management methods in health- care organizations. The use of modern technology can improve the efficiency and accuracy of health services.
Collaboration and partnerships: Facilitate collaboration between health-care organizations, government agencies, community organizations.
Develop a system of rewards and incentives: Introduce a system of rewards and incentives for health care staff that will encourage the achievement of high quality of care. This may include financial awards, incentives, professional development and development opportunities.
Monitoring and evaluation of results: Establish a system for regular monitoring and evaluation of the results of the implementation of corporate policy changes. This will allow progress to be monitored, problem areas to be identified and strategies to be adjusted where necessary.
Patient and public participation: Include patients and the public in the development and evaluation of corporate policies. Listen to and take into account their opinions and suggestions, and hold open discussions and forums to discuss quality of care.
Continuous improvement: Strive for continuous improvement of corporate policies and quality of care. Regularly review and update policies based on new research, best practice and changing patient needs.
These recommendations can help improve corporate policies and the quality of health care in Kazakhstan. However, it should be borne in mind that successful implementation of these recommendations requires joint efforts by healthcare organisations, government, patients and other stakeholders.
References:
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- Liang H, Xue Y, Zhang ZR. Patient satisfaction in China: a national survey of inpatients and outpatients. BMJ Open. 2021 Sep 7;11(9):e049570. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049570. PMID: 34493518; PMCID: PMC8424834.
- Rodziewicz TL, Houseman B, Hipskind JE. Medical Error Reduction and Prevention. 2022 Dec 4. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. PMID: 29763131.
- Public Health Challenges and Priorities for Kazakhstan https://cajgh.pitt.edu/ojs/cajgh/article/view/30
- Proceedings from the 9th annual conference on the science of dissemination and implementation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5414666/
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- On Approval of the Standard of Organization of Primary Health Care in the Republic of Kazakhstan https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/V1600013392
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