The University of Cape Coast Health Service Directorate scored 92.8% in the 2022 Central Regional Annual Health Peer Review Program, a figure which is a little above the 90% score mark the facility secured to place second in the 2021 review edition.
This was awarded to the facility by the Regional Health Directorate Peer Review team following the presentation of the findings of the seven model regional assessment team at the final durbar held at UCC.
Read also: UCC Hospital undergoes peer review
This Regional Annual Health Program dubbed, “Peer Review,” is a program instituted by the Ghana Health Service aimed at monitoring health performance at health facilities.
Among the notable models used for the assessment included, Maternal and Child health services observation, intensify and control of communicable diseases, and ensure the reduction of HIV/AIDS and other STIs, among others.
In an interview with ATL FM NEWS, the leader of the monitoring team and the Regional Chief Pharmacist, Mr. Peter Kyerematen said the Annual Health Program was instituted by the Ghana Health Service aimed at improving the performance of the healthcare delivery in Ghana.
He added that during the process, the monitoring team consisting of representatives of sister health facilities in the region converge at another facility to assess them.
The process he notes is helping the facilities.
“We use a checklist to monitor them, where there is a gap, we advise them to build it. So, the concept is helping the facilities. For the past eight years, we have been conducting this monitoring and we have gone ahead. All the facilities are now aiming at getting to the standards and that is helping a lot,” he said.
Mr. Kyerematen however notes that efforts are being made to ensure the facilities maintain the standards even after the review.
According to him, “some of the facilities when peer review is coming, for instance, they make sure that everything is correct but after the peer review, they relaxed. So, what we have planned to do to avert this is that after the peer review, we do unannounced monitoring. We come to you to see whether what we saw during the peer review is still in place.”
He congratulated UCC health service for their outstanding performance adding that they should assess themselves and where they find gaps, they must address them.
On her part, the Pro-Vice Chancellor, UCC, Prof. Mrs. Rosemond Boohene indicated that the exercise will help improve the performance of not only the facility but the entire health professionals as well as re-assess the facility’s services.
“We are not only looking at the institutions but we are also looking at the physicians, the nurses, and the facilities within which the delivery of healthcare occur. And I believe that in every system once in a while there is the need to evaluate how you operate.
And therefore, I believe that inviting other facilities, and other colleagues to come and look at how we are faring in terms of how we deliver healthcare services to patients and also how we make sure that, we live up to the standards and regulations that govern our activities is very important,” she continued.
The Deputy Director of Health Services, UCC, Dr. James Prah revealed that this health peer review program has contributed significantly to the improvement of the University’s healthcare delivery.
He assured of their continuous improvement to service their clients professionally.
Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
