The quality approach

Partnership agreements. Partnership agreements have been established between the major hospital units serving patients. There are three or four per unit. In addition to improving the quality of information provided upstream of hospitalization and cooperation between teams, they facilitate the patient's return to his/her original unit in the event of a complication. Other types of partnerships are also in place, particularly with private healthcare structures and at-home hospitalization services.
Prevention of infectious risks. The Committee Against Nosocomial Infections (CLIN) devotes all of its attention to this issue, in order to determine the appropriate preventative, protective and awareness raising measures to carry out vis-à-vis patients and staff.
Notification of undesirable events. Whatever their profession, every employee can notify management of a problem or any event likely to pose a confirmed or potential risk for patients, visitors or professionals. Notifications are made privately. The notifying person is informed of the consequences of the problem reported and the measures created to remedy the situation.
Accreditation. Within the institution, there is an organisation dedicated to quality improvement of operations and practices. A preliminary staff auto-evaluation was performed in 2003. The permanent quality improvement approach was continued through different working groups, with the goal of receiving health institution accreditation from the High Health Authority (HAS). The hospital has completed the accreditation process and its report can be read on the HAS website.
Focusing on pain. Suffering is not inevitable. The institution's Committee Against Pain brings together healthcare professionals from different units and different qualifications in order to constantly improve pain management.
Bring together user representatives. Two user associations are kept informed of the quality of case management. Their representatives review the results of satisfaction surveys. Their opinion is solicited when decisions concerning hospitalization conditions are made.