El imperativo de la participación médica en la implementación de sistemas de control de calidad / The imperative of medical participation in the implementation of quality control systems

ABSTRACT

Changes in health care delivery in Chile over the lact years include rising costs and the relative increase of prepaid private insurance programs. It is expected that there will be increasing pressures on helath providers to disease cost while maintaining or improving quality. A series of common clinical problems are reviewed (herni repair, appendicitis, gallstone disease, trauma, preoperative evaluation) to demonstrate that using a scientific method-continuous quality improvement and considering tha local socioeconomic reality, this challenge can be met. Emphasis is made on the need for physicians to participate in such a process and on the teaching of these concepts. Medical societies and schools should consider these health care developments and adapt to this changes