Musculoskeletal Quality Policy

Stoðkerfi ehf's quality policy

Stoðkerfi ehf places great emphasis on meeting quality requirements, whether they are the quality requirements of patients, the public or our employees. Our goal is that our services improve the quality of life of those who seek us and that that service not only meets but exceeds expectations. We believe that quality is the most important factor in maintaining the trust that patients place in us. To maintain high quality standards, it must apply to all aspects of the operation, including service, processes, safety and management.

We ensure that our operations comply with relevant industry standards, environmental regulations, safety standards and legal requirements. This is a key prerequisite for professional practices and responsible operations for the benefit of both clients and society as a whole.

A strong focus on a quality workforce includes investing in a thorough recruitment process, staff training, ongoing training and retraining, as well as employee satisfaction. This is to ensure that our staff are well equipped to meet the quality requirements and have the resources and support to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. We focus on continuous improvement, learning from experience and new methods to improve our processes and increase the quality of our products and services. We believe that collaboration, accountability and cohesion among all employees are key to achieving high quality standards. This is not just a management task, but it is everyone’s responsibility to promote quality in every step we take.

We are committed to ensuring that this quality policy is updated and reviewed regularly, to maintain and improve the quality culture we want to build.

Quality development of Stoðkerfi ehf.

At Stoðkerfi ehf. we are aware that our quality work is never finished, but is constantly taking place. Continuous improvement is a priority for us and there is a regular review of work processes, equipment and other resources.

The company's quality development is based on targeted work to ensure the quality and safety of the service. By having clear guidelines and processes in quality work, the aim is to achieve continuous improvements that take into account the needs of patients and developments in the company's operations. The quality development is based on the following key factors:

 

1. Reform process and governance structure

Stoðkerfi ehf. emphasizes systematic improvement work. An electronic quality manual is being developed where all procedures and job descriptions are documented and accessible. Staff training, such as in change management, is an important part of maintaining the professional capacity and adaptability of staff to meet new demands and situations. Key employees have taken a course in change management, the vision is for all employees to take such a course.

 

2. Recording and processing incidents

The company emphasizes accurate recording and processing of incidents to prevent their recurrence. Incidents are recorded in a closed electronic area in the company's internal system, although the implementation of a formal public electronic incident recording system is still in progress.

Incidents are recorded immediately after they occur and are reviewed by the Safety and Quality Committee, which meets regularly. If improvements or additional training are needed, appropriate action is taken. When appropriate, a staff meeting is held to discuss the incident, and if necessary, a report is sent to the Directorate of Health.

 

3. Service surveys

Individuals who have sought our services are a valuable source of information for improvement efforts. The implementation of regular service surveys is underway and Stoðkerfi ehf. aims to have regular quality monitoring through service surveys by the end of 2025. The experiences and knowledge of these individuals are assessed and the results are used to improve the organization and implementation of the services we provide. Such surveys also provide certain insights for the company's shareholders' strategy and decision-making.

 

4. Electronic quality system and annual quality report

The implementation of an electronic quality system is an important prerequisite for effective quality management. The implementation of an electronic quality system has begun but is not yet complete. The system allows for monitoring key aspects of quality work, facilitating the recording and processing of data, and ensuring transparency in information provision. The company will conduct an annual quality audit of its operations, which will report on the success of the improvement work and developments in the field of quality and safety.

Through these methods, the company lays the foundation for continuous development of the quality and safety of its services, which contributes to increased client satisfaction and professional strengthening within the business.

Quality indicators and internal quality control

Stoðkerfi ehf. regularly monitors various quality indicators to ensure that the operations meet established requirements. The company sets goals, measures performance against them and takes action if requirements are not met. Such issues are addressed by the Safety and Quality Committee so that necessary improvements can be made.

The company's quality indicators are divided into three categories: national quality indicators, alternative quality indicators and specific quality indicators related to specific categories of procedures. The national quality indicators are set by the Director of Health and apply to self-employed healthcare professionals with operating rooms outside hospitals. The alternative quality indicators are developed by Stoðkerfi ehf. for internal monitoring, while specific quality indicators are related to specifically defined categories of procedures.

Work on implementing the measurement of these quality indicators is still ongoing, but results for these quality indicators have been compiled for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 as far as possible.

 

The quality indicators are as follows:



National quality indicators:

• After-hours access
• Waiting time after appointment (defined down to specialties): Total number of referrals on hold.
• Using the WHO checklist for surgeries and other interventions such as endoscopy

Choice quality indicators:

• Deviations due to quality lookups in the medical record system
• Incident processing
• Registered returns due to packaging changes
• Air exchange measurements
• Tests on a backup power plant
• Result of the tracking tests
• Frequency of surgical wound infections
• Incidence of needlestick injuries
• Employee turnover
• Satisfaction with service/visit
• Waiting time of customers/patients in reception beyond the booked time (if any).
• Likelihood of the client/patient returning to the Medical Center if necessary.
• Likelihood of a client/patient returning to the same doctor if needed.
• Waiting time at the exchange desk

Specific quality indicators for spine surgery:

• Frequency of surgical wound infections
• Pain on a scale of 0-10 (0 being none and 10 being severe)
• Cerebrospinal fluid leak
• Blood loss during surgery
• Experience of care/service