Views of relevant stakeholders on the accreditation process of the Family Health Centers in Concepción 2016

Abstract

Introduction. Law N° 19.966, passed in September 2004, establishes quality assurance in health services. Accordingly, an accreditation system for health service providers to offer services safely and meet the expectations of the users was implemented.
Our study reports the views of relevant stakeholders involved in the accreditation process of Family Health Centers in Concepción in 2016.
Materials and Methods. Qualitative exploratory descriptive study that used semi-structured interviews as research technique. Interviewees were relevant stakeholders involved in the accreditation process of Family Health Centers in Concepción in 2016.
Results. The interviewees positively value the adoption of a quality-of-care culture within the public health care institutions as an organizational principle. Interviewees have knowledge about the conceptual aspects of quality of health care and the accreditation regulation framework. Leadership of the accreditation process, overload of responsibilities of quality managers, resis¬tance to change by health center officials, infrastructure deficiencies and biopsy traceability, are identified as areas for improvement as well as addressing the challenge of continuity of service in periods of union strikes.
Discussion. For relevant stakeholders involved in the accreditation process of Family Health Centers in Concepción the accreditation process is an important factor to strengthen quality and safety of care as well as patients’ expectations.