Healthcare: launch of national quality monitoring project
The Swiss Learning Health System has been commissioned by the Federal Quality Commission to develop recommendations for a national quality monitoring system for Switzerland's healthcare system. The project aims to establish a foundation for the continuous improvement of medical care.
The Swiss Learning Health System (SLHS), a research platform coordinated at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine at the University of Lucerne, has been awarded the project issued by the Federal Quality Commission (FQC). Led by scientists from the Universities of Lucerne and St. Gallen, 20 experts from 13 research institutions across Switzerland will collaborate to identify criteria and indicators that will enable comparable measurement and assessment of healthcare quality at the national level. The project has a total budget of approximately CHF 1.3 million and is expected to last two years.
The project objectives include defining the purpose and intended user groups of the quality monitoring system, along with identifying the most relevant quality indicators for various areas of the Swiss healthcare system. In its final phase, the project aims to establish a process for the continuous updating of the system to ensure flexibility and enable continuous improvement.
The mandate and objectives of the project build on insights from a previous project, also commissioned by the FQC and led by the SLHS (News article from 7 February 2024).
Involving key stakeholders
A key component of the project is the active involvement of representatives from the healthcare sector, including patient organisations, cantonal health departments, and insurance companies. To ensure that the system aligns with the needs of all stakeholders, this group will accompany the entire development process.
Dr Michael Havranek, co-project manager at the University of Lucerne, emphasizes: “Our goal is to build on existing national and international quality initiatives, expand them, and integrate them across all areas of the Swiss healthcare system. In doing so, we aim to contribute to greater transparency and continuous quality improvements together with the involved stakeholders.”
Dr David Ehlig, co-project manager at the University of St. Gallen, adds, “This project offers a unique opportunity to establish a standardized, evidence-based quality monitoring system for all areas of the Swiss healthcare system and to drive its development forward.”
The insights gained from the project are intended to form the foundation for a national monitoring system that systematically analyses healthcare services and enables targeted improvements. The goal is to provide healthcare that is optimally tailored to the needs of the Swiss population and enhances transparency around the quality of healthcare services.
Contact:
Sarah Mantwill, Research Manager SLHS
sarah.mantwill@unilu.ch, +41 41 229 59 45
