What are the characteristics of the champion that influence the implementation of quality improvement programs?

BACKGROUND: Quality improvement in Healthcare is the new fashion actually. Rich countries and developing countries alike are trying to implement quality improvement initiatives to improve their performance and the quality of care. There is evidence in the scientific literature that the existence of a "champion" can play an important role in the successful implementation of quality improvement strategies. Most of the time, people get stuck at the implementation level: they know what to do but they fail to execute it in the organizational setting. That's where a champion can be useful to facilitate the success of the change. There is a paucity of research on the link between the champion and the implementation of quality improvement programs. The aim of the study was to investigate the perceptions of stakeholders about the characteristics and qualities of the champion that could facilitate the successful implementation of quality improvement programs in health care settings in Haiti. METHODS: Twenty semi-structured individual interviews and one small group discussion (n = 4) with providers, administrators, directors, and NGO representatives were conducted during a six months period. The total sample size was twenty-four (n = 24). The methods were informed by grounded theory and the data were analyzed using the constant comparative method and thematic content analysis approach. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in eleven themes describing the characteristics and qualities of a successful champion: Communication and persuasion, proactivity, humility, horizontal and collective leadership style, sense of responsibility and accountability, go-ahead type, empathy, dedication and motivation, ability to inspire and motivate people, have a vision, and encourage learning. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to support and encourage champions in the health care systems in developing countries to master and exhibit those qualities and characteristics in order to lead a team for the successful implementation of quality improvement initiatives in the health facilities. More research is needed to understand how to better articulate those qualities in the context of the Haitian health care system.

[The health system of Brazil]. / Sistema de salud de Brasil.

This paper describes the Brazilian health system, which includes a public sector covering almost 75% of the population and an expanding private sector offering health services to the rest of the population. The public sector is organized around the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) and it is financed with general taxes and social contributions collected by the three levels of government (federal, state and municipal). SUS provides health care through a decentralized network of clinics, hospitals and other establishments, as well as through contracts with private providers. SUS is also responsible for the coordination of the public sector. The private sector includes a system of insurance schemes known as Supplementary Health which is financed by employers and/or households: group medicine (companies and households), medical cooperatives, the so called Self-Administered Plans (companies) and individual insurance plans.The private sector also includes clinics, hospitals and laboratories offering services on out-of-pocket basis mostly used by the high-income population. This paper also describes the resources of the system, the stewardship activities developed by the Ministry of Health and other actors, and the most recent policy innovations implemented in Brazil, including the programs saúde da Familia and Mais Saúde.

Sistema de salud de Brasil / The health system of Brazil

En este trabajo se describe el sistema de salud de Brasil, que está compuesto por un sector público que cubre alrededor de 75 por ciento de la población y un creciente sector privado que ofrece atención a la salud al restante 25 por ciento de los brasileños. El sector público está constituido por el Sistema Único de Salud (SUS) y su financiamiento proviene de impuestos generales y contribuciones sociales recaudadas por los tres niveles de gobierno (federal, estatal y municipal). El SUS presta servicios de manera descentralizada a través de sus redes de clínicas, hospitales y otro tipo de instalaciones, y a través de contratos con establecimientos privados. El SUS es además responsable de la coordinación del sector público. El sector privado está conformado por un sistema de esquemas de aseguramiento conocido como Salud Suplementaria financiado con recursos de las empresas y/o las familias: la medicina de grupo (empresas y familias), las cooperativas médicas, los llamados Planes Autoadministrados (empresas) y los planes de seguros de salud individuales. También existen consultorios, hospitales, clínicas y laboratorios privados que funcionan sobre la base de pagos de bolsillo, que utilizan sobre todo la población de mayores ingresos. En este trabajo se analizan los recursos con los que cuenta el sistema, las actividades de rectoría que se desarrollan y las innovaciones más recientemente implantadas, incluyendo el Programa de Salud de la Familia y el Programa Más Salud.

This paper describes the Brazilian health system, which includes a public sector covering almost 75 percent of the population and an expanding private sector offering health services to the rest of the population. The public sector is organized around the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) and it is financed with general taxes and social contributions collected by the three levels of government (federal, state and municipal). SUS provides health care through a decentralized network of clinics, hospitals and other establishments, as well as through contracts with private providers. SUS is also responsible for the coordination of the public sector. The private sector includes a system of insurance schemes known as Supplementary Health which is financed by employers and/or households: group medicine (companies and households), medical cooperatives, the so called Self-Administered Plans (companies) and individual insurance plans.The private sector also includes clinics, hospitals and laboratories offering services on out-of-pocket basis mostly used by the high-income population. This paper also describes the resources of the system, the stewardship activities developed by the Ministry of Health and other actors, and the most recent policy innovations implemented in Brazil, including the programs saúde da Familia and Mais Saúde.