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[Article] Continuous improvement as a strategy: the role of the Patient Safety Seal

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The pursuit of excellence in healthcare requires more than well-defined protocols: it demands an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. It is a systematic process of analysis, improvement, and innovation, capable of guaranteeing sustainable, consistent results over time.

In this context, initiatives such as the Patient Safety Seal, the result of a partnership between Epimed Solutions and the Brazilian Institute for Patient Safety (IBSP), represent a material milestone for institutions that wish to raise their standards of care, aligning themselves with Brazilian and international best practices.

Continuous improvement: a quality pillar in healthcare

Continuous improvement is an iterative and systematic process of improving processes, products, and services, aiming to optimize efficiency, reduce costs, and increase customer satisfaction. This is a management philosophy that pursues excellence through the identification and elimination of problems and bottlenecks, promoting a culture of constant learning and adaptation.

This practice encourages critical review and the discovery of opportunities for process improvement, always focusing on increasing the service quality and efficiency. In the healthcare industry, continuous improvement is essential to prevent adverse events, reduce process variability, and ensure that each patient receives safe, effective care focused on their needs.

Applying continuous improvement implies:

  • Plan actions based on reliable data and risk analysis;
  • Perform standardized interventions, ensuring alignment between teams;
  • Monitor results using indicators sensitive to quality and safety;
  • Adjust processes, correcting deviations and incorporating learning into the routine.

This approach strengthens an organizational culture that values transparency, learning from incidents, and shared responsibility among managers, professionals, and patients.

 

The Patient Safety Seal used as an improvement tool

The Patient Safety Seal goes beyond symbolic recognition: it works as a mechanism for encouraging and measuring institutional performance in incident management and adverse events. To achieve this, institutions must meet objective criteria aligned with Collegiate Executive Board Resolution (RDC) 36/2013, such as:

  • Classification of reports: percentage of records in “Other nature” less than or equal to 25%, demonstrating consistent use of incident categories;
  • Early detection: average time for incident identification less than or equal to 7 days, favoring rapid interventions;
  • Early investigation: average investigation time of less than or equal to 45 days, allowing the causes to be treated before causing new risks.

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