Integrating and Weighting of Safety, Health and Environment (HSE) Measures in the National Accreditation Program of Hospitals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to integrate safety, health and environmental measures (HSE) of national accreditation program of public hospitals in Kermanshah. At first, HSE metrics were identified and then aggregated and weighted these indicators (measures). 40 experts including faculty members of occupational and environmental Health at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and Kermanshah Health School; also managers of public hospitals in Kermanshah, occupational and environmental health practitioners in Health Centers of Kermanshah Province. In this study a questionnaire based on the comparison of couples was used for scoring the axes, indices and sub-indices (measures) and also scoring the measures via 9-degree scale. The obtained data was entered into Excel software and the total score was calculated and entered into the Super Decision for final weighing. The results of this study showed that the most important measures of HSE in the national accreditation program of hospitals are: accident and disaster risk management, accommodation management and management, environmental health management, waste management and occupational health. To prioritize these factors, a network analysis technique has been used. From the experts' point of view, the highest weight is related to the management and leadership. The health, safety and environment dimention was ranked fourth. Among the health, safety and environmental indicators, the highest weight was attributed to the safety. Among the environmental indicators, the indicator of waste separation in sectors / Units according to health regulations and indicators of hazardousness treatment and disposal of wastes in accordance with the guidelines, as well as the water quality index of the hospital, have the highest weight among the twenty-one indicators of this group, respectively. Measurement, evaluation and control of the harmful biological factors of the work environment in accordance with the activities of the sectors / Units have the highest weight due to the fact that the most important adverse factor in the work environment of hospitals is the biological factor. Among the safety indicators, the risk assessment and prioritization measures, accidents and disasters have the highest weight. The study showed that the integration of health, safety, and environment measures in the HSE dimention is operational and could be effective in managing the HSE topics as well as in integrating them into the hospital accreditation program.