ACCESS Health International has introduced Improvement Advisor Professional Development Programme, in partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.

The ten month programme will create professionally trained advisors to lead quality improvement in healthcare facilities across India.

The programme will begin with twenty three professionals of institutions, the National Health Systems Resource Centre; the Aarogyasri Health Care Trust; the University Research Co.; the National Neonatology Forum; the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh; ACCESS Health International; and several public and private hospitals. The  Improvement Advisor programme is based on a curriculum first developed by the Associates in Process Improvement and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The programme is funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation of the United Kingdom.

Over a period of four days, the first programme workshop introduces participants to the science of healthcare improvement. The workshop engages trainees in interactive sessions, group work sessions, and games.

Each participant will develop an improvement project for their organisation. The projects will focus on improving quality of care and services, reducing costs while improving quality, and expanding patient or customer satisfaction.

“We have seen major improvements in access to healthcare in several states in India. It is critical to improve the quality of care, at all levels. “This improvement advisor course is an important step in that direction. The programme will provide a learning laboratory for how we can improve quality on a large scale, across the country,” said Sofi Bergkvist, executive director, ACCESS Health International.

 “Healthcare systems around the world have been working to improve performance, reduce costs, and ensure high quality care using modern improvement methods,” said Dr Kedar S Mate, senior vice president, Institute for Healthcare Improvement.