Health Information and Quality Authority
Encyclopedia
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent, government-funded agency in the Republic of Ireland
which monitors the safety and quality of the Irish healthcare system. Mooted as early as 2001, HIQA received its powers and mandate in May 2007 under the Health Act 2007, the Child Care Act 1991, and the Children Act 2001.
, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis
, and Barringtons Hospital. HIQA is also tasked with inspecting hygiene standards in public hospitals.
As well as performing hospital evaluations, HIQA is charged with implementing electronic health record
s and information governance, investigating waiting times, and protecting whistleblower
s.
, there was increased demand for inspection of both private and public nursing homes. As a result, HIQA was given powers to inspect, fine, take over, and close nursing homes delivering sub-standard care.
to monitor children in care. In particular, HIQA raised concerns over the Dublin and North East areas.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
which monitors the safety and quality of the Irish healthcare system. Mooted as early as 2001, HIQA received its powers and mandate in May 2007 under the Health Act 2007, the Child Care Act 1991, and the Children Act 2001.
Hospitals
The Authority has produced a number of reports and recommendations on the safety of care in both public and private hospitals, including Mallow General HospitalMallow General Hospital
Mallow General Hospital is a public hospital located in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland. It is managed by the Irish Government's Health Service Executive and provides acute-care hospital services for a population of approximately 90,000 in County Cork. In 2008, the hospital served 10,979...
, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis
Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis
The Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis is a public hospital located in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. It is managed by the Irish Government's Health Service Executive and provides acute-care hospital services, including an 8am-8pm emergency department, for the population of County Clare...
, and Barringtons Hospital. HIQA is also tasked with inspecting hygiene standards in public hospitals.
As well as performing hospital evaluations, HIQA is charged with implementing electronic health record
Electronic Health Record
An electronic health record is an evolving concept defined as a systematic collection of electronic health information about individual patients or populations...
s and information governance, investigating waiting times, and protecting whistleblower
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
s.
Nursing homes
After the Leas Cross scandalLeas Cross scandal
Leas Cross Nursing Home was a nursing home near Swords, Dublin, Ireland, which closed several weeks after a 2005 Prime Time television report revealed sub-standard living conditions there. The documentary showed a patient with several bedsores who went on to develop MRSA...
, there was increased demand for inspection of both private and public nursing homes. As a result, HIQA was given powers to inspect, fine, take over, and close nursing homes delivering sub-standard care.
Social care
HIQA has issued reports on foster care services, describing a lack of assessment of carers and criticising the "significant failure" by the Health Service ExecutiveHealth Service Executive
The Health Service Executive is responsible for the provision of healthcare providing health and personal social services for everyone living in Ireland, with public funds. The Executive was established by the Health Act, 2004 and came into official operation on January 1, 2005...
to monitor children in care. In particular, HIQA raised concerns over the Dublin and North East areas.
See also
- Department of Health (Ireland)
- Evidence-based medicineEvidence-based medicineEvidence-based medicine or evidence-based practice aims to apply the best available evidence gained from the scientific method to clinical decision making. It seeks to assess the strength of evidence of the risks and benefits of treatments and diagnostic tests...
- Health Service ExecutiveHealth Service ExecutiveThe Health Service Executive is responsible for the provision of healthcare providing health and personal social services for everyone living in Ireland, with public funds. The Executive was established by the Health Act, 2004 and came into official operation on January 1, 2005...
- Hospital accreditationHospital accreditationHospital accreditation has been defined as “A self-assessment and external peer assessment process used by health care organizations to accurately assess their level of performance in relation to established standards and to implement ways to continuously improve”...
- Joint Commission
- List of international healthcare accreditation organizations
- Medical ethicsMedical ethicsMedical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology.-History:Historically,...
- Patient safetyPatient safetyPatient safety is a new healthcare discipline that emphasizes the reporting, analysis, and prevention of medical error that often leads to adverse healthcare events. The frequency and magnitude of avoidable adverse patient events was not well known until the 1990s, when multiple countries reported...
- Patient safety organizationPatient safety organizationA patient safety organization is a group, institution or association that improves medical care by reducing medical errors. In the 1990s, reports in several countries revealed a staggering number of patient injuries and deaths each year due to avoidable adverse health care events...
- URACUracURAC, formerly known as the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission, is a nonprofit organization promoting healthcare quality by accrediting healthcare organizations.- Mission :...