[DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE NATIONAL PLAN FOR QUALITY INDICATORS - COMPARISON OF 2016 AND 2020 RESULTS]

The National Plan for Quality Indicators of hospitals was established in 2012. The aim of the plan was to improve and advance the quality of medical treatment by measuring, comparison of hospitals and publication of the achievements to the public. Aims: To evaluate and compare the quality indicators between 2016 and 2020, characterize the different types and their contribution to the quality of patient care.

We calculated the proportion of indicators in every category and medical fields. These data were compared between 2016 and 2020 with Chi-squared tests using SAS software. We compared the success of hospitals over this period over 25 indicators shared by them, when details of the numerator and denominator were available.

No significant changes were found in the relative portion of cardiology and pediatrics indicators. An increase was demonstrated in obstetrics, neonatology and psychiatry, and a decrease in neurology, geriatrics and surgery. An increase was also found in result indicators, communication and coordination and in public health. The success rate was higher in 2020 with an increase of 26%. In only 2 indicators, measurement of head circumference in neonates and nutritional assessment in chronic ventilated patients, the success rate was lower in 2020, probably due to significant increase in their required aims and the corona pandemic.

The success rate of the quality indicators was significantly higher in 2020 in spite of an annual increase in their aims. Continuous refreshment of the national plan and the addition of safety indicators to the national plan will bring improvement in the quality and safety of patient care.