Implementation and Operation of an Integrated Quality Management System in Accordance With ISO 9001:2015 in a Dermatology Department

Quality management systems (QMS) are tools that serve to structure, control and improve the usual activities that take place in an organization or service. The ISO 9001:2015 is an internationally recognized standard, which provides the necessary resources to help an organization to improve its performance, based on the principle of plan-do-control-act, in order to obtain continuous improvement. In the field of health, it is an essential tool for the management of the services offered to patients. The ISO quality certification allows to demonstrate compliance, according to established quality standards. The process of implementing a QMS follows several phases that culminate with the completion of an external audit, which once passed, allows obtaining the quality certification ISO 9001:2015. This article describes the steps to follow to obtain this certification in a Dermatology Service.

[Experience of implementing the ISO 9001:2015 standard for the accreditation of a paediatric hospital emergency department]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper was to describe the process for accrediting a paediatric hospital emergency department to ISO 9001:2015 standards. The implementation process began in February 2015 and lasted 18months.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The project started with the decision by the Head of Department to improve service quality. A Quality Committee was established with representation of the medical, nursing and administrative staff. Training sessions were held on quality management systems and ISO standards for employees. A meeting took place among members of the Emergency Department to define the main processes, and 14 were identified, documented and included in the processes map. Workgroups were then created to review and redesign the medical and nurse protocols.

RESULTS

Thirty-five medical and fifteen nursing protocols were incorporated into the management system, and quality indicators were established that allowed the whole process to be monitored. A risk register was created to record identified risks, their severity, likelihood of occurrence, and actions taken to prevent or reduce those risks. The Emergency Department underwent an external audit during June 2016, and was certified to the requirements demanded by the international ISO 9001:2015 standard.

CONCLUSIONS

The conclusion is that implementation of a quality management system on ISO and its certification is completely achievable, and has contributed to better patient management.