An Innovative Framework for Sustainable Development in Healthcare: The Human Rights Assessment

Abstract

Healthcare providers are investing considerable resources for the development of quality management systems in hospitals. Contrary to these efforts, the number of tools that allow the evaluation of implementation efforts and the results of quality, security and sustainable development is quite limited. The purpose of the study is to develop a reference framework for quality and sustainable development in healthcare, Sanitary-Quality (San-Q) at the micro system level, which is compatible with applicable national and international standards in the field. The research method consisted of the study of literature, identification and analysis of good sustainability practices in healthcare, which allowed identification of the areas of the new San-Q framework: quality, economic, environmental, social, institutional and healthcare. These areas are incorporated into the core topics of social responsibility mentioned by ISO26000. A total of 57 indicators have been defined that make up the new reference framework. The evaluation format of the indicators is innovative through a couple of values: completion degree–significance. In the experimental part of the research, a pilot implementation of the San-Q framework at an emergency hospital was performed, the results recorded in terms of responsibility for human rights being presented. The conclusions of the study reveal the innovative aspects of the framework that facilitate the development of a sustainability strategy promoted through performance indicators, the results obtained after evaluation being useful in establishing a reference level of sustainability but also in developing sustainability policies.

An Investigation for Future Practice of Elective Hip and Knee Arthroplasties during COVID-19 in Romania

“…Intraoperative and postoperative guidelines [ 41 , 42 ] can better prepare elective surgical specialties for possible further pandemic waves and establish a new paradigm for health care in orthopedics [ 43 ]. Concomitantly, as information about the state of the pandemic evolves, surgical managers should update decision-making procedures for performing elective surgery [ 44 , 45 ]. Effective dialogue with religious groups can also improve the outcomes of public health interventions [ 46 ].…”

‘Lean Dancing’: How Involvement in Continuous Improvement and Lean Techniques Relate to Hospital Performance and Workers’ Wellbeing through Autonomy

“…On the one hand, managers can boost the quality of performance and service, and also employees' wellbeing, by involving employees in Continuous Improvement activities. This is also highlighted in recent research, for example, by Virmani et al, (2020) [66], who characterize a lack of CI as one of the important barriers to successful implementation, and by Moldovan (2022) [67], in which CI-as part of a self-assessment-is an important vehicle for the purpose of strategy implementation. On the other hand, managers can stimulate the efficiency dimensions of performance by applying Lean Techniques.…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Orthopedic Residents: A Pan-Romanian Survey

“…This study can serve as a reference for training center leaders when making important decisions on behalf of their residents. The results of our research may help residency training centers to develop robust programs that can survive this pandemic [ 41 ].…”