Health Sector Transformation Program within Saudi Vision 2030 aims to improve the quality and efficiency of health services in the Kingdom. The program has made significant progress in healthcare quality improvements. Two healthcare quality improvements achieved under the program are discussed below, along with their measurement criteria.
The first healthcare quality improvement is reducing waiting times for patients. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has established the “Mawid” application, which allows patients to book appointments with doctors and receive health services without delay—according to MOH statistics, the waiting time for appointments decreased from 44 days in 2017 to just four days in 2020, thanks to the implementation of Mawid. Additionally, the Mawid application provides real-time data on the number of patients waiting for treatment, enabling healthcare providers to optimize resource allocation, reduce waiting times, and provide better care quality (Alharthi, et al. 2021).
The second healthcare quality improvement is reducing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The MOH has introduced several initiatives to reduce the prevalence of HAIs, including implementing electronic monitoring systems, improving hygiene practices, and conducting training programs for healthcare workers. The MOH measures the incidence of HAIs through the National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) program. The program uses a standardized method to collect data on HAIs, which enables the MOH to identify high-risk areas and implement appropriate measures to reduce infection rates (Alfadda, et al. 2020).
Critical objective two was paramount in my previous work setting as a healthcare quality consultant. One quality improvement effort that I was involved in was reducing medication errors. To achieve this goal, we implemented a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system that provided real-time data on patients’ medications, doses, and schedules. The system also alerted healthcare providers of potential drug interactions, allergies, and dosing errors. The successful implementation of CPOE led to a 50% reduction in medication errors and improved patient safety. However, one of the most challenging aspects of the project was getting buy-in from healthcare providers who were resistant to change and sceptical of the new technology.
One quality improvement project I suggest to my supervisor or past supervisor is implementing a patient feedback system to improve patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction is a crucial measure of healthcare quality, and patient feedback provides valuable insights into how healthcare providers can improve care delivery. The feedback system can be implemented through a survey or feedback kiosk that asks patients about their experience with the healthcare facility, the quality of care provided, and areas for improvement. The importance of this improvement lies in the fact that patient feedback can provide healthcare providers with valuable insights to improve their services and meet the needs and expectations of patients. The success of this project can be measured by tracking changes in patient satisfaction scores over time and analyzing feedback to identify areas for improvement (Huang, Li, & Li, 2020).
In conclusion, healthcare quality improvements are crucial to the success of the Health Sector Transformation Program in Saudi Vision 2030. The reduction of waiting times for patients and the prevalence of HAIs are two significant improvements achieved under the program. Fundamental objective two applies to every healthcare setting and is crucial for improving patient outcomes, reducing costs, and enhancing patient satisfaction. Healthcare quality consultants and providers should continually assess healthcare quality, identify areas for improvement, and implement evidence-based interventions to achieve better patient outcomes.
References
Alfadda, A., Al-Rabiaah, A., Almajhdi, F., & Alhazzani, W. (2020). Hospital-Acquired Infections in Saudi Arabia: Epidemiology, Trends, and Prevention Strategies. Infection and Drug Resistance, 13, 3583-3593. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S266919
Alharthi, R., Alkraiji, A., Alqahtani, S., & Alharbi, A. (2021). Mobile Applications in Healthcare Services: A Scoping Review of the Saudi Arabian Context. Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries, 15(1). doi 10.29063/juice.v15i1.414
Huang, L., Li, Z., & Li, S. (2020). Implementing a patient feedback system in a tertiary hospital in China: An analysis of its impact on patient satisfaction. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05784-3
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Reducing waiting times for patients and reducing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are two significant healthcare quality improvements achieved under the Health Sector Transformation Program within Saudi Vision 2030. The reduction in waiting times was achieved through the implementation of the “Mawid” application, which enabled patients to book appointments with doctors and receive health services without delay, while also providing real-time data to healthcare providers to optimize resource allocation. The MOH has also introduced several initiatives to reduce the prevalence of HAIs, including electronic monitoring systems, improved hygiene practices, and training programs for healthcare workers, which has been measured through the National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) program. Another healthcare quality improvement suggestion is implementing a patient feedback system to improve patient satisfaction, which can provide valuable insights into how healthcare providers can improve care delivery to meet the needs and expectations of patients. It is essential for healthcare providers to continually assess healthcare quality, identify areas for improvement, and implement evidence-based interventions that can achieve better patient outcomes.
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