Functional quality indicators for assessing health care initial response to societal disturbances for education

Sammanfattning

Study/Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe the procedure of identifying and developing quality indicators during educational activities. In addition, the steps taken to assure the validity and reliability of the indicators are presented.Background: In Sweden a national effort has been made to structure the work processes for crisis preparedness. That is, the process for regional health point of contact and the designated duty officer, has been modified in an attempt to support a shared view regarding collaboration and command during societal disturbances. The effort consists of education and training of designated duty officers, while also developing quality indicators for assessing the work process before the designated duty officer declare a major incident.Methods: The work of identifying and developing the quality indicators was carried out in focus groups with domain experts.Results: Initially the work processes of the designated duty officer were thoroughly analyzed and described. The work process was separated into three distinct phases. Focus was on the first two phases. These process steps, have thereafter been connected to concrete behaviors or products that are assessed. The quality indicators are directed towards two levels; if a process step has been carried out within the time-frame, and also the performance quality of an indicator. For example, has an operational picture been established within three minutes of the alarm call? If so, what was the quality of the decision based on, the event description, the consequence description, or the measures description?Conclusion: The aim of the quality indicators is to make sure that educational activities that are performed does in fact result in actual, and measurable impact. This approach confirms to what extent the activities are successful.