Evaluating STI - Health Systems Trust

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Key Step number 13 – Feedback to Clinics
Key Step number 14 – Decide on Priorities
Feedback is an important part of the DISCA process. The manner in
which this will be done should be discussed when plans are first made
to conduct the DISCA evaluation.
A forum should be established to allow for feedback of findings to all
staff at the clinic.
Whatever feedback approach is used, it is ultimately the clinicians
who need to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses in the quality
of care of clients.
Ideally the clinicians should be involved in the next two steps of
deciding on priorities and developing action plans. They may have
some important insights into why some aspects of quality are deficient
and how they could be remedied.
Providing feedback to clinicians is valuable for a number of reasons.
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It enables them to see the relevance of the DISCA and
should increase their commitment to the correct use
of this tool.
It increases their awareness of aspects of quality that
need improving.
It enables them to be part of the decision making
process for improving quality of care. People will always
be more committed to carrying out action plans that
they have participated in developing.
Criteria for Selecting Priorities
There are three key questions to answer in deciding what the priorities are:
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How important is it to address this?
This would take into account the following factors:
- How serious is the problem? What impact does it
have on the quality of someone’s health?
- How common is this problem? Does it affect large
numbers of people?
Can we do something about it?
- Are there people with the necessary skills to be
able to address it?
- Are the necessary resources available? This
would include any materials needed as well as
the finances required.
- Is it something that could be done easily and soon,
or would it be a long term project?
Are there people who are willing/wanting to do
something about it?
- Do staff within the health services feel committed
to addressing this issue?
- Is there a level of concern in the community about it?
- Are there people in the community who could
play a role in resolving the problem?
- Are there people who might block the proposed
action?