One of the main priorities for any healthcare facility is to ensure quality to access universal health coverage that is responsive to the needs of its users. To achieve this, the healthcare system must be safe, effective, timely, efficient, equitable, and people-centered. Supportive Supervision (SS) done in-person can improve relationship between provider and supervisor and form the foundation to improve quality. Supportive Supervision makes the healthcare facility immune to avoid adverse event.
QUALITY recognizes six elements (see diagram) at the healthcare facility level. Through these six-dimensions, facilities demonstrate a strong customer orientation where services consider the preferences of people they serve. Health facility services need to be accessible, available, confidential, equitable, and safe. Safety is ensured by strict adherence to upon standards of care that agreeing are-implemented by an adequately trained workforce.
For Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) health facility will introduce quality standards to meet patient's expectations.
| QUALITY DIMENSIONS | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|
| Technical Competence | Providers are technically competent to perform the tasks required of them (as described in the service delivery protocols). |
| Safety & Security | Appropriately screening potential clients, practicing proper infection prevention procedures, maintaining the premises and equipment; making sure that first and foremost, no harm is done in the delivery of services. |
| Privacy & Confidentiality | Clients' rights to privacy and confidentiality are protected. |
| Informed Choice | Measures are taken to ensure that clients have all the information they need to make an informed choice and that clients are never coerced into accepting the service. |
| Continuity of Care | Clients receiving services from healthcare facility have access to follow-up care. |
In-person supportive supervision fosters a stronger, more effective relationship between the provider and supervisor, which is essential for enhancing and sustaining service quality.
In person Supportive Supervision (SSV) can ensure high-quality work and services, detect and solve problems, prevent future problems, train staff to improve their capacity to perform, monitor implementation of activities. It also can provide constructive feedback, join problem-solving and can maintain two-way communication between supervisor and supervisees. That's why staff members will motivate to do good job. In person SSV can carry greatly influence staff. It's involves processes and skills. In-person SSV is linked to staff motivation, quality, successful implementation of activities and projects, problem-solving, and quality improvement. Supervisors can serve as role models, teachers, motivators, and mentors to their staff. SSV opens up the opportunity to minimize errors that may cause harm to the patient; the supervisor can make an immediate correction of the execution of the procedure or suspend it if necessary.
Rezaul Karim is a public health and nutrition professional with over 12 years of experience in health systems strengthening, training, and humanitarian response. He is currently a PhD Fellow at Haji Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) and serves as Manager of Training at Noora Health. Rezaul Karim holds dual master's degreesāan MPH from ASA University Bangladesh and an MNFS from the University of South Asiaāalongside a Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery from the University of Dhaka.
His career includes key leadership roles as National Coordinator (QIL-HUB) with UNICEF, AUHC Expert with USAID, and Humanitarian Expert under a UNHCR-funded project. His professional focus lies in quality improvement, capacity building, and integrating public health and nutrition interventions to enhance equitable healthcare delivery in Bangladesh. Rezaul is playing the role of secretary general and executive board member for the Public Health Informatics Foundation (PHIF) and MedGlobal International.
