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Change and challenges for ESQH  Stiofan deBurca, President ESQH Welcome to the first issue of the ESQH Newsletter. It comes at an exciting time for the Society with the expansion of our Secretariat and the launch of our website. Challenges lie ahead as we move forward on to the global stage via the World Wide Web. Our tasks remain clear in the light of these changes, to remain dedicated to the improvement of quality in healthcare at national and international levels. Keeping the network of networks communicating and exchanging information is critically important to the success of this Pan-European Society. Our greatest challenge in to communicate our shared knowledge and thus stimulate debate and action on issues relating to quality in healthcare. The newsletter and website are new platforms from which ESQH's knowledge on issues relating to quality in healthcare can be publicised. It also signifies a new and exciting time for ESQH as it brings the European quality in healthcare agenda to a new and wider audience. Workshops in 1999 Fundamental to ESQH's development and relevance is the recognition of the value of learning and knowledge-management based upon internal and external experience. Hence, the creation of the means to capture, classify and provide accessible data and methodologies for research and the development of effective approaches and techniques. Fundamental to ESQH's development and relevance is the recognition of the value of learning and knowledge-management based upon internal and external experience. Hence, the creation of the means to capture, classify and provide accessible data and methodologies for research and the development of effective approaches and techniques. Our Workshops are designed to exchange knowledge in relation to information, training, implementation and review activities. They are also intended to facilitate joint working arrangements with pan-European organisations, which have associated interests and aims. Each workshop generates a report, reference material and an updated action plans. The Society's first Spring Workshop was held in Solothurn Switzerland in March 1999. This was the first in a series of Workshops designed to exchange knowledge in relation to information, training, implementation and review activities. A report of that workshop was published in the ISQua Journal in June '99 The Autumn Workshop was held in Caltanissettta Italy in September 1999 in conjunction with CEFPAS (Centre for Training Research in Public Health). The theme was "Developing Quality Health Care organisations in Europe through Learning Education and Training". It explored and clarified the role of learning, education and training in relation to quality in effecting significant change in healthcare organisations in Europe. There is general recognition of the need to change organisational thinking and orientation. This workshop explored the evidence of current approaches which are facilitating paradigmatic shifts at organisational and practice levels. A report of this workshop is presently being prepared for publication. Utrecht Workshop. March 2000 ESHQ's second Spring Workshop will convene on Wednesday March 22nd in Domus Medica, Utrecht. "State or the Union: linking policy and actions on health care quality between the European Union and Member States". Organised in conjunction with the Dutch Society for Quality (NVKZ), it aims to be a lively platform for discussion and debate on issues relating to European policy and actions on healthcare. Objectives of the workshop:
For further details click here ESQH Website www.esqh.net Designed by Ms. Aoife Hilton, Mid Western Health Board, Ireland
This is an exciting development for ESQH and will enhance the Society's profile on a global scale. The ESQH webmaster can be contacted at, Tel: +353 61 48 3286, Fax: +353 61 48 3350, Email: ahilton@mwhb.ie Developments in the ESQH Secretariat Since 1998, when ESQH became a formal and recognised organisation, a secretariat began in the Mid Western Health Baord, Ireland. This consisted of people volunteering their time and effort and was extremely successful getting the Society off the ground. As the Society grew, so too did the demands on the Secretariat. Teleconferences, documentation distribution, brochures, logo development, European Workshops, and day to day maintenance of the European network, all made it increasingly difficult to keep the momentum going without a full time and properly funded Secretariat. In 1999, the Irish Government's Department of Health and Children agreed to fund the ESQH Secretariat at £50,000 Irish Pounds per annum, (Î63,486.90 EUR). This funding is a breakthrough for the Society and has ensured it's future development. As a result of this funding, it has now become possible to fund a full time Executive Assistant for ESQH. This person is due to take up the position shortly and will take over the running of the day to day tasks of the Society:
The Secretariat will be based in the Mid-Western Health Board, Ireland
at the following address: Dates for your Diary 22nd March 2000 Royal Dutch Medical Association, Domus Medica, Lomanlann 103, 3526 XD, Utrecht, The Netherland "State or the Union: linking policy and actions, on health care quality between the European Union and Member States". For information contact 23rd - 25th March 2000 Amsterdam Rai, The Netherlands British Medical Association, For Information contact the: 12-16 September 17th International Conference of The International Society for Quality in Health Care, in association with the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and the Irish Society for Quality in Healthcare.(ISQH) Contact ISQH for further details Tel: +353 1 8092585, www.isqh.ie |
