JHPIEGO TrainerNews™ |
Performance Improvement at Clinical
Training Sites in Ghana
(October 2001)
In July 2001, JHPIEGO took the first step toward applying a Performance Improvement (PI) approach to strengthening clinical training sites in Ghana. JHPIEGO is applying the PI approach within a program designed to strengthen preservice training. In collaboration with the Ghanaian Ministry of Health (MOH), including the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Human Resources Development Division (HRDD), JHPIEGO has been working to strengthen midwifery training in reproductive health and essential maternal healthcare at the country's 10 midwifery schools. The program focuses on the clinical portion of midwifery training that takes place during students' rotations at clinical training sites. At this stage, the PI approach is being used to strengthen 15 clinical training sites of three of the midwifery schools.
From 16-18 July, a working group comprising representatives from the MOH, HRDD, NMC, midwifery schools, clinical training sites, and Regional and District Management Teams met in Dodowa to define desired performance for the clinical training sites and develop a tool to measure actual performance. The working group also developed a table of desired performance standards and a vision statement for clinical sites.
On 19 July, these outputs were presented to stakeholders, including NMC, midwifery school and regional- and national-level MOH representatives. After suggesting minimal revisions, the stakeholders adopted the documents. The final tool for measuring performance has been distributed to the 15 clinical sites. The next step in the PI process will take place in September, when stakeholders from the 15 sites will meet to discuss the findings from their site assessments and conduct a root cause analysis to develop and prioritize interventions that address the identified root causes.
For additional information, please contact Kama Garrison,or Susi Wyss at repro@jhpiego.net.