[Performance Assessment Tool for Quality Improvement in Hospitals (PATH): first experiences in Croatia]

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Hospital Quality Improvement
• Public Health

Context:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) for Europe's PATH (Performance Assessment Tool for Quality Improvement in Hospitals) program was piloted in Croatia.
• 22 hospitals voluntarily participated in the program's initial phase in 2008-2009.
• This study presents findings from the first phase of this pilot program.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the performance of Croatian hospitals using a standardized tool.
• To identify variations in key performance indicators across participating hospitals.
• To lay the groundwork for quality improvement measures in healthcare.

Summary:

• Significant variations were observed in cesarean section rates (1.1%-21.4%), myocardial infarction mortality (1.9%-21.4%), and stroke mortality (12.5%-45.5%).
• High rates of needle-stick injuries were reported among physicians (16.2%), nurses (6.1%), and support staff (4.6%).
• Data collection and analysis presented challenges, highlighting limitations in hospital-level data management.

Impact:

• Findings reveal substantial disparities in hospital performance indicators.
• The study underscores the need for improved data quality and analysis for accurate hospital comparison.
• Recommendations for quality improvement are crucial for national and international healthcare benchmarking.