Brazilian hospitals' performance: an assessment of the unified health system (SUS).

This paper assesses the economic efficiency of Brazilian general hospitals that provide inpatient care for the Unified Health System (SUS). We combined data envelopment analysis (DEA) and spatial analysis to identify predominant clusters, measure hospital inefficiency and analyze the spatial pattern of inefficiency throughout the country. Our findings pointed to a high level of hospital inefficiency, mostly associated with small size and distributed across all Brazilian states. Many of these hospitals could increase production and reduce inputs to achieve higher efficiency standards. These findings suggest room for optimization, but inequalities in access and the matching of demand and supply must be carefully considered in any attempt to reorganize the hospital system in Brazil.

Patient safety climate in a Brazilian general hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To measure patient safety climate and the associated factors from the perspective of the multiprofessional team. METHOD: This was an analytical cross-sectional study, developed in a medium-sized hospital in the Southern region of Brazil. The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) was used as the data collection tool and applied to 199 workers of the multiprofessional and support team between November 2017 and February 2018. Data analysis was descriptive and analytical. A positive score was considered when ≥75. RESULTS: The overall SAQ score was positive (75.1). The domain Satisfaction at Work was the one with the highest score (88.7), while Stress Perception showed the worst score (59.1). It was observed that professionals without a College/University degree better evaluated the domains Satisfaction at Work, Management Perception and Working Conditions, whereas the ones with a College/University degree had better stress perception. Medical doctors showed better Stress Perception when compared to the other health professionals. CONCLUSION: There is a positive safety climate in health organizations from the perspective of the multiprofessional team. However, the domains Safety Climate, Working Conditions and Stress Perception constitute areas that need improvement in terms of patient safety in the institution.

Patient safety nucleus: the pathway in a general hospital. / Núcleo de segurança do paciente: o caminho das pedras em um hospital geral.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience of implementing the patient safety nucleus and the strategies developed to ensure safer care. METHOD: Experience report on the implementation of the nucleus and strategies for patient safety in a hospital in the south of Brazil, from 2009 to 2017. RESULTS: The concern with patient safety was made official in 2009 with the creation of a specific service for risk management and in 2015 it was named the patient safety nucleus. Eight strategies were implemented in order to disseminate the patient safety policy. CONCLUSION: An improvement was observed in the processes related to patient safety in the institution. Top management support and leadership engagement were key to this journey.

Centro de material e esterilização: reconfiguração da assistência indireta de enfermagem em um hospital geral (2002 a 2007) / Material and sterilization center: reconfiguration of indirect nursing care in a general hospital

O serviço de esterilização de materiais hospitalares no Brasil foi realizado historicamente no mesmo espaço social do centro cirúrgico. Porém, os avanços tecnológicos dos instrumentais e a crescente complexidade dos procedimentos cirúrgicos implicaram na evolução das técnicas de esterilização dos materiais, o que culminou na centralização do Centro de Material e Esterilização (CME) e na concomitante reconfiguração da assistência indireta de enfermagem. Esta pesquisa tem como objeto de estudo a reconfiguração da assistência indireta de enfermagem durante a centralização do setor de esterilização no Hospital Santa Teresa (HST), um hospital geral da rede privada do município de Petrópolis, Região Serrana do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Objetivos: descrever as circunstâncias que determinaram a centralização do CME no HST; analisar as estratégias empreendidas pela equipe de enfermagem que participou da centralização do CME para a reconfiguração da assistência indireta de enfermagem; Discutir os ganhos simbólicos com a centralização do CME para a assistência indireta da enfermagem, para o HST e para a sociedade. Metodologia: estudo histórico-social, de abordagem qualitativa, na perspectiva da História do Tempo Presente. As fontes históricas foram: primárias escritas: atas de reunião, Procedimento Operacional Padrão (POP) e material de treinamento da equipe de enfermagem; primárias orais: depoimentos temáticos com a participação de oito profissionais; secundárias: livros, dissertações, teses e artigos científicos. Os resultados desse estudo evidenciaram que, antes da centralização do CME, os profissionais de enfermagem dividiam suas práticas entre os cuidados diretos e indiretos no setor de esterilização conjugado ao centro cirúrgico, evidenciando a não exclusividade, sobrecarga de trabalho e prevalência dos cuidados diretos sobre os indiretos. Havia pouca valorização/visibilidade do serviço de esterilização, o qual era considerado desqualificatório para os profissionais que o exerciam. Não havia rotina para dimensionamento de pessoal e eram realizadas práticas que comprometiam o controle efetivo de infecção hospitalar. A partir do cumpra-se legislativo que determinava a centralização do serviço de esterilização, teve início o processo de centralização do serviço de esterilização, que passou a contar com rotinas previstas para o CME a ser centralizado, redimensionamento de pessoal com escalas e a reconfiguração da assistência indireta, que se tornou exclusiva, mais sistematizada e com mais controle sobre os processos de trabalho. Novos profissionais foram contratados para atuar na esterilização e os envolvidos passaram a adquirir novos capitais científicos por meio de educação continuada especialização, treinamento, educação permanente e/ou capacitação. Novas tecnologias foram agregadas ao serviço, inclusive após a efetiva centralização do CME. Conclui-se que as estratégias adotadas pela equipe de enfermagem para reconfigurar a assistência indireta resultaram em ganhos simbólicos para a enfermagem com redução do estresse laboral, maior satisfação no trabalho, autonomia, reconhecimento e valorização profissional; para o HST, que passou a dispor de maior eficácia no controle de infecções hospitalares e gestão financeira relacionada aos insumos mais eficiente; e para a sociedade, que se beneficiou com serviços mais qualificados e seguros prestados pelo hospital.

The hospital materials sterilization service in Brazil was carried out historically in the same social space of the surgical center. However, the technological advances of the instruments and the increasing complexity of the surgical procedures implied in the evolution of the techniques of material sterilization, which culminated in the centralization of the Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) and the concomitant reconfiguration of the indirect nursing care. This study object is the reconfiguration of indirect nursing care during the centralization of the sterilization sector in Hospital Santa Teresa (HST), a private general hospital of the municipality of Petrópolis, Mountain Region of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Objectives: to describe the circumstances that led to the centralization of the CSSD in HST; to analyze the strategies implemented by the nursing team that participated in the centralization of the CSSD for the reconfiguration of the indirect nursing care; discuss the symbolic gains with the centralization of the CSSD for the indirect assistance of nursing, the HST and the society. Methodology: historical-social study, qualitative approach, from the perspective of the History of Present Time. The historical sources were: written primaries: meeting minutes, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and training material of the nursing team; oral primary: thematic statements with the participation of eight professionals; books, dissertations, thesis and scientific articles. The results of this study showed that, prior to the centralization of CSSD, nursing professionals divided their practices between direct and indirect care in the sterilization sector combined with the surgical center, evidencing non-exclusivity, work overload and prevalence of direct care over the indirect. There was little appreciation / visibility of the sterilization service, which was considered disqualifying for the professionals who carried it out. There was no routine for staff sizing and practices performed undermined the effective control of hospital infection. From the legislative resolution that established the centralization of the sterilization service, the process of centralization of this sector began, with routines planned for the CSSD, staff rescaling with scales and the reconfiguration of the indirect assistance, which has become exclusive, more systematized and with more control over work processes. New professionals were hired to perform sterilization, and those involved began to acquire new scientific capital through specialization, training, permanent education and / or training. New technologies were added to the service, even after the effective centralization of the CME. It was concluded that the strategies adopted by the nursing team to reconfigure indirect care resulted in symbolic gains for nursing with reduction of work stress, greater job satisfaction, autonomy, recognition and professional valorization; for HST, which has become more effective in the control of hospital infections and more efficient in financial management of inputs; and to society, which has benefited from more qualified and safe services provided by the hospital.

Núcleo de segurança do paciente: o caminho das pedras em um hospital geral / Núcleo de seguridad del paciente: el camino de los obstáculos en un hospital general / Patient safety nucleus: the pathway in a general hospital

Resumo OBJETIVO Descrever a experiência da implantação do núcleo de segurança do paciente e as estratégias desenvolvidas para garantir uma assistência mais segura. MÉTODO Relato de experiência da implantação do núcleo e das estratégias para segurança do paciente em um hospital no sul do Brasil, de 2009 a 2017. RESULTADOS A preocupação com a segurança do paciente foi oficializada em 2009 com a criação um serviço específico para gerenciamento dos riscos assistenciais e em 2015 foi nomeado o núcleo de segurança do paciente. Oito estratégias foram implantadas visando disseminar a política de segurança do paciente. CONCLUSÃO Foi observado um avanço na melhoria dos processos relacionados a segurança do paciente na instituição. Apoio da alta direção e engajamento das lideranças foram fundamentais nesta caminhada.

Resumen OBJETIVO Describir la experiencia de la implantación del núcleo de seguridad del paciente y las estrategias desarrolladas para garantizar una asistencia más segura. MÉTODO Relato de experiencia de la implantación del núcleo y de las estrategias para la seguridad del paciente en un hospital en el sur de Brasil, en el período de 2009 a 2017. RESULTADOS La preocupación por la seguridad del paciente fue oficializada en 2009 con la creación de un servicio específico para la gestión de los riesgos asistenciales, y en 2015 se nombró el núcleo de seguridad del paciente. Se implantaron ocho estrategias para diseminar la política de seguridad del paciente. CONCLUSIÓN Se observó un avance en la mejora de los procesos relacionados con la seguridad del paciente en la institución. El apoyo de la alta dirección y el compromiso de los líderes fueron fundamentales en este trayecto.

Abstract OBJECTIVE To describe the experience of implementing the patient safety nucleus and the strategies developed to ensure safer care. METHOD Experience report on the implementation of the nucleus and strategies for patient safety in a hospital in the south of Brazil, from 2009 to 2017. RESULTS The concern with patient safety was made official in 2009 with the creation of a specific service for risk management and in 2015 it was named the patient safety nucleus. Eight strategies were implemented in order to disseminate the patient safety policy. CONCLUSION An improvement was observed in the processes related to patient safety in the institution. Top management support and leadership engagement were key to this journey.

Patient safety: understanding human error in intensive nursing care.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the active failures and the latent conditions related to errors in intensive nursing care and to discuss the reactive and proactive measures mentioned by the nursing team. METHOD: Qualitative, descriptive, exploratory study conducted at the Intensive Care Unit of a general hospital. Data were collected through interviews, participant observation and submitted to lexical analysis in the ALCESTE® software and to ethnographic analysis. RESULTS: 36 professionals of the nursing team participated in the study. The analysis originated three lexical classes: Error in intensive care nursing; Active failures and latent conditions related to errors in the intensive care nursing team; Reactive and proactive measures adopted by the nursing team regarding errors in intensive care. CONCLUSION: Reactive and proactive measures influenced the safety culture, in particular, the recognition of errors by professionals, contributing to their prevention, safety and quality care.

Hospital waste: can we reduce the environmental impact of a large university hospital?

Introduction: As technology advances, society must reflect on the destination of materials which are no longer needed. Hospital waste requires special attention due to the associated risk of disease transmission and biological accidents. Also, it tends to increase proportionally to the economic development and is associated with increased use of disposable material. The purpose of this study is to analyze the management of hospital waste at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) and to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of the measures adopted by the institution to mitigate the impact of its waste on the environment. Methods: Observational study with field research. Hospital waste management is divided into generation, disposal, storage and final destination. Results: Between 2010 and 2015, the HCPA produced 21.4 tons of biological and sharps waste, 23,000 liters of chemical waste and 113,9 tons of solid waste per month. The main improvements include the implementation of a inspection of the hospital's waste bins every 2 months, a reduction from 29.42% to 2.79% in the rate of inappropriate disposal of hazardous waste, a 313% increase in investments in staff training, the expansion and adaptation of external areas for temporary storage of hospital waste and the collection of more than 1 ton of waste generated by the local community (sharps, X-ray films, kitchen oil, batteries), as well as the establishment of contracts which will guarantee the appropriate treatment of all types of health care waste. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that mitigating the impact of hospital waste on the environment is possible and should encourage the adoption of similar measures at other institutions (AU)

[Evaluation of policies in the procedures for food handling to prevent nosocomial infections in general hospitals and public institutions of health in Mexico]. / Evaluación de políticas en manejo de alimentos para prevenir infecciones nosocomiales en hospitales generales de instituciones públicas de salud en México.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation and proper use of policies and procedures for food handling to prevent nosocomial gastrointestinal infections in major General Hospitals and Public Institutions of Health in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of food services in 54 second-level general hospitals from these institutions: Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), and the Ministry of Health (SESA). A questionnaire was made to identify risk factors for food contamination. In the statistical analysis, we determined the relative frequency of food handling complying with the norm; a qualitative analysis was performed using an intentional non-probabilistic sampling, targeting department heads, managers, and operational staff. The qualitative variables were verified through non-parametric tests. RESULTS: From 54 hospitals evaluated, 81% had procedure and operation manuals, 35% prepared and stored food according to NOM-251-SSA1-2009, 52% performed ongoing training, 62% had a record of microbiological analysis done to staff and 81% done to foods, and 31% had first in first out (FIFO) temperature control systems. CONCLUSIONS: Second-level health institutions in Mexico have deficiencies in the implementation of norms and procedures to handle, store, and prepare food that can lead to gastrointestinal outbreaks of nosocomial infections in patients, health staff, and visitors. In order to ensure the quality of food preparation for distribution and consumption in hospitals, it is necessary that food services comply with current norms and regulations, updating policies and procedures, and training their staff continuously.

Auriculoterapia chinesa para redução de estresse e melhoria de qualidade de vida de equipe de enfermagem: ensaio clínico randomizado / Chinese Auricular therapy to reduce stress and improve life quality of Nursing Team: Randomized Clinical Tria

Introdução: A equipe de Enfermagem em hospitais tem sido exposta a ambientes de trabalho estressantes, submetidos, muitas vezes, à condições de trabalho precárias, com baixa qualidade de vida. A auriculoterapia chinesa apresentou eficácia em estudo preliminar para redução de estresse com um protocolo escolhido com base na Medicina Tradicional Chinesa(MTC) e este Ensaio Clínico se propôs a avaliar a eficácia e o alcance da técnica quando é aplicada com e sem protocolo fechado. Objetivos: Descrever e investigar os níveis de estresse da equipe de Enfermagem do Hospital Samaritano; Comparar a eficácia da auriculoterapia chinesa realizada com e sem protocolo, descrever os principais diagnósticos de MTC para estresse e a eficácia dos pontos escolhidos. Material e Método: Na primeira fase, 484 profissionais responderam a um questionário de dados sócio-demográficos e à Lista de Sintomas de Stress de Vasconcellos(LSS). Foram incluídos aqueles com pontuação entre 37 a 119 pontos (médio e alto estresse). Randomizaram-se 213 pessoas em 3 grupos (controle, grupo protocolo e grupo sem protocolo); 175 finalizaram o tratamento de 12 sessões de auriculoterapia com agulha semipermanente, duas vezes por semana, por seis semanas. O protocolo de pontos utilizado foi: ponto Rim, Tronco Cerebral, Shenmen e Yang do Fígado 1 e 2. Os instrumentos de Coleta de dados no Ensaio Clínico foram a LSS, o Inventário de Sintomas de Stress da Lipp (ISSL), o Instrumento de Qualidade de Vida (SF36v2), uma Ficha de diagnósticos de MTC. O período de coleta foi de novembro de 2011 a julho de 2012 e sete acupunturistas participaram do estudo. A pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da EEUSP e do Hospital. Resultados: Na primeira fase, a pontuação média de estresse de 484 profissionais foi de 45,92 (nível médio). Os que apresentaram níveis mais elevados de estresse foram: as enfermeiras (p=0,012), profissionais do turno da manhã (p=0,022) e sujeitos com doenças auto referidas (p=0,001). Na segunda fase, os dois grupos de intervenção obtiveram diferenças estatísticas significativas quando comparadas ao grupo controle (p<0,05), com efeito superior para o grupo sem protocolo segundo a LSS no pós-tratamento e follow-up. Quanto ao ISSL, houve melhores resultados para o grupo sem protocolo para a fase de resistência/quase exaustão e domínio psicológico da fase de alerta. Quanto ao SF36v2, houve diferença estatística (p<0,05) somente para o grupo sem protocolo quanto ao domínio físico no follow-up. No domínio mental, ambos os grupos de intervenção obtiveram resultados positivos(p<0,05), com ligeira superioridade para o grupo sem protocolo quanto ao índice d de Cohen. Os principais diagnósticos de MTC foram: Estagnação de Qi e Xue nos meridianos tendino-musculares, Calor de Estômago e Subida de Yang do Fígado, Estagnação de Qi do Fígado, Distúrbio de Shen, Deficiência de Yin do Rim, Deficiência de Qi e Xue do Baço-Pâncreas. Os pontos mais utilizados foram os cinco pontos do protocolo somados a Estômago, Baço e pontos de dor. Conclusão: o grupo sem protocolo obteve melhores resultados para redução de estresse e melhoria de qualidade de vida, demonstrando que a auriculoterapia chinesa quando feita de forma individualizada.(AU)

Introduction: Hospitals Nursing Team have been exposed to highly stressful work environment and submitted many times to precarious work conditions and thus low quality of life. Chinese auricular therapy has presented efficiency in a preliminary study to reduce stress by a selected protocol based on Chinese Traditional Medicine (MTC). This Clinical Trial is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness and reach of the technique whenever this is applied with or without a closed protocol. Objectives: Describe and investigate the stress levels of Samaritano Hospitals Nursing Team; Compare the effectiveness of Chinese Auricular Therapy performed with or without protocol; Describe the main diagnosis of MTC for stress and efficiency of the selected points. Material and Method: On the first phase, 484 professionals answered to a questionnaire containing demographic social data and to the Vasconcelos List of Stress Symptoms (LSS). Those ones with score between 37 and 119 points (average and high stress) were included. 213 people were randomized in 3 groups (control, protocol group and group without protocol); 175 ended a 12-session auricular therapy treatment with semi-permanent ear needles twice a week for six weeks. The scoring protocol used was: Kidney point, Brain stern point, Shenmen and Yang of the Liver 1 and 2. The instruments for the data collection in the Clinical Trial were LSS, Lipp Stress Symptoms Inventory (ISSL), Instrument of Life Quality (SF36v2), MTC diagnosis chart. The period of data collection was between November 2011 and July 2012 and seven acupuncturists participated in the trial. This study was approved by the School and Hospital Ethical Committee on Clinical Trial. Results: On the first phase, the average scoring of stress was of 45,92 (average level of stress). The professionals that presented higher stress levels were: nurses (p=0,012), morning shift professionals (p=0,022) and subjects with self-referred diseases (p=0,001). On the second phase, the two intervention groups presented differences once compared with the control group (p<0,05), with higher effect in the group without protocol according to LSS in the after treatment and follow-up. Regarding ISSL, there were better results to without protocol group for resistance/quasi-exhaustion phase and physical domain of alert phase. In relation to SF36v2, there was statistics difference (p<0,05) only for the group without protocol in connection with physical dominance during follow-up. In mental dominance, both of intervention groups presented positive results (p<0,05), with an slight superior effect for the group without protocol as per Cohens index. The main MTC diagnosis was: Qi stagnation and Xue in the tendino-muscular meridians, Stomach Heat and Rising of Yang of the Liver, Qi stagnation of the Liver, Shen Disturbs, Kidney Yin Deficiency, Qi deficiency and Xue of Spleen-Pancreas. The mostly used points were the five ones of the protocol plus Stomach, Spleen and pain points. Conclusion: the group without protocol presented the best results for stress reduction and improvement of life quality, demonstrating that Chinese auricular therapy made in a personalized way broaden the reach of the technique.(AU)

O apoio institucional como método de análise-intervenção no âmbito das políticas públicas de saúde: a experiência em um hospital geral / Institutional support as a method of analysis-intervention in the context of public health policies: the experience in a general hospital

O artigo aborda a construção de um método de análise/intervenção no âmbito das políticas públicas de saúde, que se delineia de forma articulada aos princípios da Política Nacional de Humanização do SUS em um hospital geral. Apresenta o apoio institucional como um método que se expressa num modo de fazer que persegue a criação de grupalidade, a análise dos processos de trabalho e envolve a problematização dos modos de gestão. A Política Nacional de Humanização aposta na produção da saúde que implica em produção dos sujeitos. A produção da saúde é um processo em rede que envolve sujeitos, processos de trabalho, saberes e poderes. O desafio do apoio é fomentar nessa rede o exercício do protagonismo dos sujeitos e convocar o potencial criativo próprio da vida para a construção de novos modos de gerir o trabalho que não sejam novas formas de assujeitamento. O estudo pretende mostrar que por meio do apoio institucional é possível colocar em cena as forças implicadas na produção de saúde e com isso convocar os grupos a uma análise de suas implicações. Os efeitos produzidos indicam que esta é uma estratégia potente para a intervenção dos processos de trabalho no âmbito das políticas públicas de saúde.

The article addresses the elaboration of a method for analysis/intervention in the sphere of public health policies. It describes the introduction of the National Humanization Policy of the Unified Health System (SUS) in a general hospital. It proposes institutional support expressed as a method for doing things that seeks the creation of group action, work process analysis and involves examining work management methods. It relies on promotion of health, which implies the production of subjects. The promotion of health is a networking process that involves individuals, work processes, knowledge and power. The challenge of supporting this network is to foster the exercise of the role of individuals and summon the inherent creative potential of life for the construction of new ways of work management that are not new forms of subjection. The study aims to show that by means of institutional support it is possible to bring to the fore the forces involved in the promotion of health and thereby summon the groups for an analysis of its implications. The effects produced indicate that this is a powerful strategy for the intervention of work processes within the scope of public health policies.

[Institutional support as a method of analysis-intervention in the context of public health policies: the experience in a general hospital]. / O apoio institucional como método de análise-intervenção no âmbito das políticas públicas de saúde: a experiência em um hospital geral.

The article addresses the elaboration of a method for analysis/intervention in the sphere of public health policies. It describes the introduction of the National Humanization Policy of the Unified Health System (SUS) in a general hospital. It proposes institutional support expressed as a method for doing things that seeks the creation of group action, work process analysis and involves examining work management methods. It relies on promotion of health, which implies the production of subjects. The promotion of health is a networking process that involves individuals, work processes, knowledge and power. The challenge of supporting this network is to foster the exercise of the role of individuals and summon the inherent creative potential of life for the construction of new ways of work management that are not new forms of subjection. The study aims to show that by means of institutional support it is possible to bring to the fore the forces involved in the promotion of health and thereby summon the groups for an analysis of its implications. The effects produced indicate that this is a powerful strategy for the intervention of work processes within the scope of public health policies.

[Administration of human performance: a case study in a General Hospital of Fortaleza, Ceará State]. / Gestão do desempenho humano: um estudo de caso em um Hospital Geral de Fortaleza (CE).

The thematic of this work presents questions on the practice of the Evaluation of functional performance in an organization of public health. This axle of analysis gains importance from the difficulties of developing evaluation systems with alliances between policies of concession of financial incentives, in a specific cultural context. In this direction, it is necessary to admit the limits of this management tool. From a qualitative research, a semi-structured questionnaire was applied to the staff (public servers) of a public general hospital of Ceará State. It was observed the characterization of the performance evaluation system used in the institution, being able to verify its adequacy to the models proposed in the literature and the relevancy of its intentions with the perceptions and expectations of the searched servers.

Gestão do desempenho humano: um estudo de caso em um Hospital Geral de Fortaleza (CE) / Administration of the human acting: a case study in a General Hospital of Fortaleza, Ceará State

A temática deste trabalho apresenta questões sobre a prática da avaliação de desempenho funcional em uma organização pública de saúde. Este eixo de análise ganha destaque a partir das dificuldades de desenvolvimento de sistemas de avaliação com alianças entre políticas de concessão de incentivos financeiros, em um contexto cultural peculiar. Nesse sentido, é necessário admitir os limites dessa ferramenta gerencial. A partir de uma pesquisa qualitativa, utilizou-se um roteiro semiestruturado de perguntas aplicado aos servidores de um hospital geral público do Estado do Ceará. Obteve-se a caracterização do sistema de avaliação de desempenho utilizado pela instituição, podendo-se verificar sua adequação aos modelos propostos na literatura e a pertinência de seus propósitos com as percepções e expectativas dos servidores pesquisados.

The thematic of this work presents questions on the practice of the Evaluation of functional performance in an organization of public health. This axle of analysis gains importance from the difficulties of developing evaluation systems with alliances between policies of concession of financial incentives, in a specific cultural context. In this direction, it is necessary to admit the limits of this management tool. From a qualitative research, a semi-structured questionnaire was applied to the staff (public servers) of a public general hospital of Ceará State. It was observed the characterization of the performance evaluation system used in the institution, being able to verify its adequacy to the models proposed in the literature and the relevancy of its intentions with the perceptions and expectations of the searched servers.

Recomendação nº 041, de 10 de outubro de 2008: recomenda que seja incluído o indicador de abertura de leitos psiquiátricos em Hospitais Gerais no Pacto pela Vida / Recommendation No. 041, of October 10, 2008: recommends that the indicator for opening psychiatric beds in General Hospitals be included in the Pacto pela Vida

Recomenda que seja incluído o indicador de abertura de leitos psiquiátricos em Hospitais Gerais no Pacto pela Vida.

Recomendação nº 028, de 10 de julho de 2008: recomenda aos Conselhos Estaduais e Municipais de Saúde que supervisionem a criação de novos leitos psiquiátricos em Hospitais Gerais / Recommendation No. 028, of July 10, 2008: recommends that State and Municipal Health Councils supervise the creation of new psychiatric beds in General Hospitals

Recomendação nº 028, de 10 de julho de 2008: Recomenda aos Conselhos Estaduais e Municipais de Saúde que supervisionem a criação de novos leitos psiquiátricos em Hospitais Gerais.

Hospital care: assessment of users' satisfaction during hospital stay.

Health care teams have followed the National Health System's (SUS) principles to ensure quality improvement in healthcare, and patient satisfaction is one of the instruments used to evaluate quality. This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction regarding the assistance to their needs during hospitalization, in a general hospital of a city in the interior of São Paulo. Data were collected through participant observation and use of focal group techniques in this qualitative research. A theme guide was used and a total of 20 subjects participated in the study. Data were analyzed through content analysis and interpreted through triangulation. Study results demonstrate that patients were satisfied with the care rendered. However, the researcher concluded that the institution's work organization is not directed to the attainment of quality.

Hospital care: assessment of users' satisfaction during hospital stay / Atención hospitalaria: evaluación de la satisfacción de los pacientes durante su período de internación / Assistência hospitalar: avaliação da satisfação dos usuários durante seu período de internação

Health care teams have followed the National Health System's (SUS) principles to ensure quality improvement in healthcare, and patient satisfaction is one of the instruments used to evaluate quality. This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction regarding the assistance to their needs during hospitalization, in a general hospital of a city in the interior of São Paulo. Data were collected through participant observation and use of focal group techniques in this qualitative research. A theme guide was used and a total of 20 subjects participated in the study. Data were analyzed through content analysis and interpreted through triangulation. Study results demonstrate that patients were satisfied with the care rendered. However, the researcher concluded that the institution's work organization is not directed to the attainment of quality.

El equipo de salud ha tomado como base los principios del SUS para asegurar la calidad de la atención. La satisfacción de los pacientes ha sido utilizada como uno de los instrumentos de evaluación. Este estudio busca evaluar la satisfacción de los pacientes con la atención de sus necesidades durante la internación, en un hospital general del interior de Sao Paulo. Se adoptó como metodología la investigación cualitativa y, como técnica de recolecta de datos, la observación participante y el grupo focal. Se utilizó un guía de temas y participaron en la investigación doce sujetos. El análisis de los datos se basó en el análisis de contenido. Para la interpretación se utilizó la técnica de triangulación. Los resultados demostraron que los pacientes se sintieron satisfechos con la atención. No obstante, la investigadora concluyó que la forma de organización del trabajo de la institución no evidencia una preocupación por la calidad de la atención.

A equipe de saúde tem se baseado nos princípios do SUS para assegurar a melhoria do atendimento dos serviços de saúde e a satisfação dos usuários e tem sido utilizada como um dos instrumentos de avaliação da qualidade. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a satisfação dos usuários com o atendimento de suas necessidades durante a internação, num hospital geral do interior do Estado de São Paulo. Adotou-se, como metodologia, a pesquisa qualitativa e, como técnica de coleta de dados, a observação participante e o grupo focal. Foi utilizado um guia de temas e participaram da pesquisa doze sujeitos. Realizou-se a análise de conteúdo dos dados e, para a interpretação, utilizou-se a técnica de triangulação. Os resultados demonstraram que os usuários ficaram satisfeitos com o atendimento. Entretanto, a pesquisadora concluiu que a organização do trabalho da instituição não tem como meta o alcance da qualidade.

Hospital organization culture, capacity to innovate and success in technology adoption.

PURPOSE: Absorptive capacity has been defined as an organization's ability to recognize the value of new information, assimilate it, and apply it to productive ends. This study aims to examine the type of organization culture that influences the capacity of hospital organizations to innovate by absorbing new technology and the importance of this absorptive capacity in information technology (IT) implementation success. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Based on previous research, this study proposes a measure of absorptive capacity that includes managerial IT knowledge and communication channels and tests its relationship to the level of success implementing new systems. A sample of 192 hospital administrators shared their opinions about their organizations culture, ability to absorb new technology, and the extent to which their latest IT implementation operational for at least one year has been a success. FINDINGS: The results show the importance of organization culture as an important factor in developing absorptive capacity, and the latter's influence in the implementation of new technologies. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The study provides insights into the types of activities that management should undertake in order to enhance absorptive hospital capacity.

Nosocomial bacteremia in neonates related to poor standards of care.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, intravenous liquids are mixed and administered by nurses, sometimes under suboptimal infection control conditions. We hypothesized that outbreaks of infusate-associated neonatal bacteremias are common, and we evaluated whether they can be detected by vigilant microbiologic surveillance of infusates. METHODS: We studied intravenous infusates administered to neonates in a Mexican hospital where mixtures of infusates were prepared in hospital wards. The study was performed in 3 stages: stage 1, initial culturing of in-use infusates under basal conditions; stage 2, prospective culturing during a cluster of clinical sepsis; and stage 3, final culturing once the outbreak was controlled. RESULTS: In stage 1, 68 infusates were sterile, and 1 was contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (1.45%), from 23 patients. In stage 2, of 182 infusates from 39 patients, 51 infusates (28%) were contaminated with Gram-negative rods. On the first day of stage 2, 11 of 15 infusates were contaminated with the same strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which continued to appear for 26 days. Another 4 strains of Gram-negative rods were also isolated during stage 2. The association between contaminated infusate and death was significant (odds ratio, 9.4; 95% confidence interval, 2-44.3; P < 0.001). Mixtures made by nurses were more likely contaminated than commercial preparations (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-8.5; P = 0.037). In stage 3, there were 42 sterile infusates from 22 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that poor standards of care common in hospitals from developing countries sometimes result in outbreaks of sepsis and death for newborn patients.