Avanzando en la sistematización del benchmarking en servicios de salud pública / Improving the systematization of benchmarking in public health services

La mejora continua de la gestión debería ser una aspiración para todas las organizaciones del sector público. Los elementos de comparación externa obenchmarkingidentifican buenas prácticas en organizaciones similares. En servicios de salud pública, obtener indicadores de este tipo no es fácil. Los objetivos de este trabajo son describir el proceso seguido para llevar a cabo un ejercicio debenchmarkingen una organización de salud pública, y compartir sus frutos. Para ello, se identificaron organizaciones para compararlas, y se buscaron en sus páginas web informes o memorias con indicadores de las actividades o resultados de los servicios de salud pública. Se identificaron limitaciones y condicionantes de los indicadores de las diferentes organizaciones, así como maneras de mejorar su capacidad de comparación. Finalmente, se propone un conjunto de 19 indicadores como núcleo inicial de comparación orientado a la gestión de calidad. (AU)

Continuous management improvement should be an aspiration for all public sector organizations. External comparison or benchmarking identifies good practices in similar organizations. For public health services, it is not easy to obtain such indicators. The objectives of this paper are to describe the process of conducting a benchmarking exercise for a public health agency, and to share its results. For this purpose, agencies that may be compared were identified, and their websites were searched for annual reports or other documents with indicators of the activities or results of public health services. Limitations and contextual aspects of the indicators of the different organizations were identified, as well as ways to improve their comparability. Finally, a set of 19 indicators is proposed, as an initial core for quality management comparisons. (AU)

Un sistema de vigilancia de salud pública para el cambio climático en las ciudades / A public health surveillance system applied to climate change for cities

Se presenta una primera propuesta de sistema de vigilancia de salud pública aplicado al cambio climático en el contexto urbano, y el proceso que llevó a su definición. Tras varios años de seguimiento de los diversos aspectos del cambio climático y de su impacto, desde los servicios de salud pública de Barcelona se formuló una propuesta preliminar y se reunió un grupo de trabajo de personas expertas que discutieron y valoraron su contenido. Se partió de cuatro categorías de componentes: datos de clima, impactos en salud del cambio climático y sus determinantes, contribuciones de la ciudad a la mitigación (especialmente con cobeneficios para la salud) y acciones para reducir la vulnerabilidad ante eventos extremos. Se desglosaron en 12 componentes, con indicadores para cada uno. El esquema se refinó con aportaciones posteriores y se ha incorporado al trabajo de los servicios de salud pública de la ciudad implicados en este campo. (AU)

This paper makes a first proposal for a public health surveillance system for climate change in cities, and describes the process that led to its definition. After several years of monitoring different aspects related to climate change and its impact, the public health services of Barcelona made a preliminary proposal and gathered a working group of experts to discuss and review it. Four categories of components were defined: climate data, health impacts of climate change and its determinants, contributions of the city to mitigation (especially those with health co-benefits), and actions to reduce vulnerability to extreme events. They were broken in twelve components, with indicators for each. The proposal was further refined with subsequent reviews, and is being used by the city public health services involved in this field. (AU)

[A public health surveillance system applied to climate change for cities]. / Un sistema de vigilancia de salud pública para el cambio climático en las ciudades.

This paper makes a first proposal for a public health surveillance system for climate change in cities, and describes the process that led to its definition. After several years of monitoring different aspects related to climate change and its impact, the public health services of Barcelona made a preliminary proposal and gathered a working group of experts to discuss and review it. Four categories of components were defined: climate data, health impacts of climate change and its determinants, contributions of the city to mitigation (especially those with health co-benefits), and actions to reduce vulnerability to extreme events. They were broken in twelve components, with indicators for each. The proposal was further refined with subsequent reviews, and is being used by the city public health services involved in this field.

[Improving the systematization of benchmarking in public health services]. / Avanzando en la sistematización del benchmarking en servicios de salud pública.

Continuous management improvement should be an aspiration for all public sector organizations. External comparison or benchmarking identifies good practices in similar organizations. For public health services, it is not easy to obtain such indicators. The objectives of this paper are to describe the process of conducting a benchmarking exercise for a public health agency, and to share its results. For this purpose, agencies that may be compared were identified, and their websites were searched for annual reports or other documents with indicators of the activities or results of public health services. Limitations and contextual aspects of the indicators of the different organizations were identified, as well as ways to improve their comparability. Finally, a set of 19 indicators is proposed, as an initial core for quality management comparisons.

Mejorando el control del riesgo por alergias e intolerancias alimentarias en los comedores escolares: aportaciones cualitativas de los grupos focales / Improving the control of food allergy and intolerance risks in school settings: qualitative inputs from focus groups

Este trabajo describe la aplicación de la técnica de grupos focales a la evaluación de los programas de control de riesgos por alergias e intolerancias alimentarias (AIA) en los comedores escolares de Barcelona. Tras impulsar su implantación, y como un componente cualitativo de su evaluación, los servicios de salud pública realizaron dos grupos focales, uno con personas procedentes de escuelas que gestionan su propia cocina y otro con personas de empresas externas que gestionan este servicio. Participaron 28 personas de un 46% de los centros invitados. Todas las escuelas parecen haber implantado un programa de autocontrol de AIA. Aunque las empresas gestoras externas solían contar ya con él, la mayoría de las escuelas que gestionan su propia cocina no lo tenía y adoptó el programa propuesto por los servicios de salud pública. El número de escolares con alguna AIA notificada disminuyó tras el programa, al exigir este un mayor rigor en su documentación

This paper describes the use of focus groups as part of the evaluation of programmes to control food allergy and intolerance (FAI) in school settings in the city of Barcelona (Spain). After fostering their adoption and as a qualitative component of their evaluation, the public health services ran two focus groups, one with people from schools that manage their own kitchen, and another from companies that outsource this service. There were 28 participants from 46% of the centres invited. All the schools seem to have implemented a self-control programme on FAI. Although outsourcing companies already had a programme, the schools that managed their own service mostly adopted the programme promoted by the public health services. The number of schoolchildren with reported FAI reduced after the programme, as it required more rigorous documentation from families

[Improving the control of food allergy and intolerance risks in school settings: qualitative inputs from focus groups]. / Mejorando el control del riesgo por alergias e intolerancias alimentarias en los comedores escolares: aportaciones cualitativas de los grupos focales.

This paper describes the use of focus groups as part of the evaluation of programmes to control food allergy and intolerance (FAI) in school settings in the city of Barcelona (Spain). After fostering their adoption and as a qualitative component of their evaluation, the public health services ran two focus groups, one with people from schools that manage their own kitchen, and another from companies that outsource this service. There were 28 participants from 46% of the centres invited. All the schools seem to have implemented a self-control programme on FAI. Although outsourcing companies already had a programme, the schools that managed their own service mostly adopted the programme promoted by the public health services. The number of schoolchildren with reported FAI reduced after the programme, as it required more rigorous documentation from families.

[Advances in the management of an animal shelter]. / Avances en la gestión de un centro de acogida de animales de compañía.

Changes in the Barcelona animal shelter from 2002 to 2005 are presented. In 2003, routine euthanasia of unclaimed stray animals was discontinued, due to a political decision of the city council. Changes were also made in the management of the shelter: from January 2003 to July 2004 the shelter was operated by an animal protection organization, and then directly again by the city public health agency. Management of the shelter by the animal welfare organization was associated with an increase in the proportion of dogs rescued and adopted. The suspension of routine euthanasia was associated with a marked increase in the number of stray dogs. Canine distemper became endemic in the shelter until late 2004, due to a certain unwillingness to use euthanasia to control infection transmission. Direct operation by public health services in a context of transparency and high social expectations has led to the development and adoption of standardized work protocols in the shelter, improving quality.

Avances en la gestión de un centro de acogida de animales de compañía / Advances in the management of an animal shelter

Se presenta la evolución del centro de acogida de animales de compañía de la ciudad de Barcelona de 2002 a 2005. Por mandato municipal se suspenden de forma general los sacrificios desde 2003. Se producen cambios de gestión, asumida durante los meses que van de enero de 2003 a julio de 2004 por una entidad protectora, y luego directamente por los servicios de salud pública. La gestión de una protectora conllevó notables incrementos en el número de animales rescatados y adoptados. La suspensión del sacrificio se acompañó de un extraordinario incremento de la tasa de abandonos. La reticencia en eutanasiar a animales aquejados de enfermedades infecciosas generó una endemia de moquillo, que se controló a finales de 2004. La recuperación de la gestión directa por los servicios de salud pública en un contexto de transparencia y exigencia social ha llevado al desarrollo y la adopción de protocolos de trabajo sistematizados, que mejoran la calidad

Changes in the Barcelona animal shelter from 2002 to 2005 are presented. In 2003, routine euthanasia of unclaimed stray animals was discontinued, due to a political decision of the city council. Changes were also made in the management of the shelter: from January 2003 to July 2004 the shelter was operated by an animal protection organization, and then directly again by the city public health agency. Management of the shelter by the animal welfare organization was associated with an increase in the proportion of dogs rescued and adopted. The suspension of routine euthanasia was associated with a marked increase in the number of stray dogs. Canine distemper became endemic in the shelter until late 2004, due to a certain unwillingness to use euthanasia to control infection transmission. Direct operation by public health services in a context of transparency and high social expectations has led to the development and adoption of standardized work protocols in the shelter, improving quality