Quality process management in healthcare facilities

Abstract

The paper deals with the issue of healthcare facilities in the Czech Republic (CR) using integrated management systems and possibilities of standardization. The first part of the paper is aimed at trends in the quality of provided healthcare and patient safety, as perceived by the World Health Organization and the current status and trends in the healthcare facilities management in the CR. The second part focuses more specifically on the standardization of the healthcare facilities management by means of national and international standards. The article tackles mainly the possibilities of integration of management system within the system of ISO standards and their compatibility with national accreditation standards for hospitals in the CR focusing on two key attributes of health care, i.e., quality and patient safety. In connection with this issue the possibility of using ISO 9001 and ISO 31000 having an immediate impact on these attributes is further discussed. The result of a detailed comparison of the above regulations and standards consists in the finding that the standards can be integrated with each other; they are not incompatible, but conversely complement each other.