Antonio O Gallesio1. 1. Servicio de Terapia Intensiva Adultos del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. antonio.gallesio@hospitalitaliano.org.ar
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The objective of this review is to focus on recent developments in ICU quality improvement. RECENT FINDINGS: Quality improvement has been subjected to an extensive discussion in the last two decades. Reasons for improving quality in the ICU cover many areas: Customer preferences have been focused as the main target for designing processes throughout the whole industry of services. New bioethics principles: patient autonomy and therapeutic limitation in the nonrecoverable patient, have changed the concept of ICU mission and quality improvement. Economical reasons: Cost of nonquality in long term vision is more expensive than investing in improving quality. Social imperatives: Equity in access to safe healthcare services is claimed everywhere in the world. Discussion about medical errors and patient safety: Errors have been visualized more as a lack of barriers in process designing than a responsibility of the health team participating in patient care. SUMMARY: Changes described above have impacted the whole practice of intensive care. Quality improvement and offering a safer healthcare will promote deep changes in management and leadership.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The objective of this review is to focus on recent developments in ICU quality improvement. RECENT FINDINGS: Quality improvement has been subjected to an extensive discussion in the last two decades. Reasons for improving quality in the ICU cover many areas: Customer preferences have been focused as the main target for designing processes throughout the whole industry of services. New bioethics principles: patient autonomy and therapeutic limitation in the nonrecoverable patient, have changed the concept of ICU mission and quality improvement. Economical reasons: Cost of nonquality in long term vision is more expensive than investing in improving quality. Social imperatives: Equity in access to safe healthcare services is claimed everywhere in the world. Discussion about medical errors and patient safety: Errors have been visualized more as a lack of barriers in process designing than a responsibility of the health team participating in patient care. SUMMARY: Changes described above have impacted the whole practice of intensive care. Quality improvement and offering a safer healthcare will promote deep changes in management and leadership.