Driving Quality: Transforming Quality Governance in Jordan’s Health System
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In Jordan, the URC-led USAID Health System Quality Accelerator Activity (the Activity) addressed gaps in health service quality by supporting the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Royal Medical Services (RMS) in developing and implementing a national quality governance framework. Despite USAID's support over the past two decades, Jordan lacked a unified patient safety and quality governance structure. However, it fosters a culture of continuous improvement and safety, which is critical for maintaining public trust and achieving better health outcomes. The Activity aims to institutionalize Quality Assurance and Patient Safety (QAPS) teams and integrate the Point-of-Care Quality Improvement (POCQI) model for continuous improvement in Jordan’s health system. The Activity employed a CLA approach, collaborating with the MOH and RMS to assess and enhance quality structures using reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) data. This led to the creation of an adaptable QI framework. Subsequently, the Activity focused on institutionalizing QAPS teams in 130 primary healthcare centers and 20 hospitals, utilizing the POCQI model to drive incremental improvements with their own resources and local data reflection. Engaging frontline healthcare providers fostered ownership and commitment, resulting in over 300 POCQI initiatives by 150 QAPS teams. Key outcomes included establishing a national quality governance framework, expanding the POCQI model to the private sector, and issuing a policy directive for QAPS teams in all MOH health facilities, with at least one POCQI initiative annually. The CLA approach significantly improved health service quality and outcomes, showcasing the effectiveness of adaptive, collaborative strategies in strengthening Jordan's health system.