Developing a national patient safety plan in Guatemala

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Management
• Health Policy

Background:

• Patient safety is a critical global challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
• Guatemala faces significant hurdles in ensuring patient safety within its health systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the strategic planning process for a national patient safety plan in Guatemala.
• To outline a framework for improving patient safety in the Guatemalan public health sector.

Main Methods:

• Multi-stakeholder engagement including the Ministry of Health, medical leaders, and academic experts.
• Mixed methods approach utilizing quantitative and qualitative surveys.
• Nominal group technique at a national symposium to prioritize safety challenges.

Main Results:

• A national patient safety plan was developed, focusing on four key domains: leadership and governance, training and awareness, safety culture, and outcome metrics.
• Specific goals, activities, outputs, and benchmarks were defined for each domain.
• The Ministry of Health will oversee the implementation and monitoring of the plan.

Conclusions:

• Guatemala has established a long-term commitment to enhancing patient safety within its public hospital system.
• The plan's success will necessitate future expansion to encompass all levels of the Guatemalan health system.