Public versus Private Based Quality Initiatives Healthcare

Although significant progress has been made in the recent past, there is still need to further enhance the effectiveness of the entire healthcare system with an aim of ensuring the delivery of better care. The public sector’s role on this front is more of an overseer as far as quality is concerned in the healthcare setting. In the words of Oliver (2014), “in the absence of a public sector presence in the country’s system for external quality assurance, the private sector will have much wider discretion concerning quality assurance activities” (147). Public-based quality initiatives set the standard for quality assurance activities which is a role that may not be effectively played by the private sector as a result of the potential for conflict of interest. This is more so the case given that the governance as well as sponsorship of quite a number of entities that concern themselves with accreditation could comprise of persons representing the same providers that are supposed to be accredited by the said entities. Thus when it comes to external quality assurance, the relevance of the public sector cannot be overstated. Going forward, as Britell (2015) observes, there is need to see to it that the quality assurance engagements of both the private and the public sector are bridged. As the author further points out, the private sector has could play the research role more effectively in seeking to advance the quality agenda. This is a role that could be supported by the government via the formulation of a framework for standardized reporting formats for the relevant data (Britell, 2015). It is important to note that neither public nor private-based quality initiatives have a single solution to the further enhancement of patient safety. This is to say that healthcare should be seen as an ecosystem that is fully dependent upon the participation of players from both the private and the public sectors. If public sector players were to be eliminated, quality and outcomes would most likely take a backseat – with focus shifting to high-client load and profit.
References
Britell, M. (2015). In Search of the Perfect Health System. New York, NY: Palgrave MacMillan
Oliver, T.R. (2014). Guide to U.S. Health and Health Care Policy. New York, NY: SAGE Publications.