CHF Projects – Safety and Quality Project 2007-08: It's all about communication

About the Project
This project will involve consumer networks in improving safety and quality in health care and has been developed by CHF following discussions with the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission). Both organisations recognise the importance of ensuring that consumer networks are aware of and understand the approaches being taken to improve safety and quality of care across the public and private hospital, primary health care and community care settings. Consumer participation in safety and quality will contribute to the cultural changes needed among health professionals, health managers, health services and the wider community that are needed for sustainable improvements in safety and quality health care.

Aim
To engage and involve health consumers across Australia in improvement in safety and quality in health care through the opportunities arising from the work plan of the Commission.

Objectives
The CHF Quality and Safety Project January 2007 – December 2008 will:

• Raise awareness amongst CHF members of the Commission's work plan and how it relates to safety and quality improvements in health care that is relevant to consumers
• Consult with CHF members and consumer networks about key consumer issues related to the Commission’s work plan
• Develop an increased level of understanding of systemic safety and quality improvement in health care amongst consumer networks and consumer representatives involved in safety and quality work
• Gain a greater understanding of the perspectives of key stakeholder groups and increase their awareness of the value of involving consumers in safety and quality improvements
• Provide capacity within the CHF secretariat to enable and promote the need for strong consumer participation in the implementation of the Commission’s work plan across the health system

Expected Outcomes

• Greater understanding and awareness among health consumer organisations and their networks about safety and quality improvement in health care and the work of the Commission
• Informed and strategic consumer expertise and advice provided to the Commission on engaging consumers in the implementation of improvements in safety and quality in health care
• Informed and strategic consumer expertise and advice provided to key stakeholders about consumer perspectives on safety and quality in health care
• Quality information provided to CHF members and other interested health consumers on improving safety and quality in health care
• Increased capacity in the CHF network of consumer organisations to participate in and respond to emerging issues in the implementation of safety and quality improvements in health care

Guidance for the Project
A three or four member Reference Group will convene as a reference point for the Secretariat for the 2007-2008 Safety and Quality Project until December 2008.

The Reference Group will provide guidance on:

• Strategies that will maximise the influence of the Consumer Representative on the Commission
• Raising awareness amongst CHF members of the Commission’s work plan
• Key consumer issues related to the Commission’s work plan
• Strategies to increase the understanding of systemic safety and quality improvement in health care among consumer networks

Funding
The Safety and Quality Project is funded by the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care