Great efforts to improve quality

In 2008 Rigshospitalet received for the third time the seal of approval as an accredited hospital according to the Joint Commission’s international standards and goals for patient security. The majority of patients expressed satisfaction with their courses of therapy.

Accreditation from the Joint Commission International every three years is part of the hospital’s quality plan to ensure regular maintenance and improvement of quality. For each accreditation of the hospital, demands have increased, and the level for quality and patient security over time is expected to show a continued positive development. Goals for patient security

One of the focus areas is six international goals for patient security which were introduced and implemented in the hospital’s security culture in 2008. The six goals contribute to a good environment for patient security.

The following are examples of everyday procedures implemented as a consequence of the six goals:

• Check the patient’s name and CPR number before starting treatment.
• Mark the place of operation before starting a surgical procedure.
• Prevent accidents due to falling while hospitalised.
• Write down phone messages about patient’s treatment and ensure that the message is repeated to the sender of the message.
• Good hygiene.
• Safe storage of high-risk medical products.

Praise from patients
In 2008 a major cross-regional study of patient satisfaction was conducted, and 92 per cent of patients stated that they were satisfied with their course of therapy at Rigshospitalet.

The Capital Region of Denmark has decided to continue implementing the Join Commission’s model while at the same time carrying out a Danish model for quality improvement which is to enter into force in 2009. For Rigshospitalet this means quality improvement at national as well as international level, and this coincides well with the hospital’s vision to be a leading player within highly specialised diagnosis, treatment and care.