Zbigniew J. Król MD, PhD, Tomasz Tomasik MD, PhD - EQuiP members
Since the Polish College of Family Physicians was established - quite recently in 1992 – several quality improvement activities have evolved, stimulated by a number of workshops focusing on quality improvement in primary care organised by the College in cooperation with other Polish institutions.
In 2000, a School of Tutors with the aim of training GP-facilitators of peer-review groups was established. The current program comprise seven modules: leadership; quality tools for family practice; evidence based medicine; doctor patient communication; research in family practice; medical record keeping and practices external quality audit.
Good lobby work done by the Polish College has established quality improvement as a subject in the curriculum of national vocational/residential training of family doctors.
Practice Accreditation
A voluntary accreditation process has started in Polish primary care, involving nearly 30 practices that have received quality certificates. The certification is done by an independent Board. The Board of Accreditation is a part of The Confederation of Accreditation, established by the Association for Quality Improvement in Poland, the College of Family Physicians, the Hospital Association and the Chamber of Physicians.
Guideline development
The College of Family Physicians has been engaged in guidelines development since its very start, taking a leading role in the process, also involving associations of specialists. So far, six guidelines were published and another four are soon to come. Guidelines are distributed free of charge among Polish GPs.
Conference on Quality Improvement and Education
A Conference on Quality Improvement and Education in Family Medicine, organised for the first time in 2004 by College members, was warmly welcomed by participants. Therefore a second event will take place in Krakow April 2005 in connection with the EQuiP closed meeting.
Polish Journals of Family Medicine
The Polish educational journal “Family Physician” (Lekarz Rodzinny) is published monthly, and contains pages focusing on quality improvement. Moreover, quality improvement programs are described in “Problems in Family Practice” (Problemy Medycyny Rodzinnej) – published twice annually. Most authors are doctors-alumnis of the School of Tutors.
A mandatory recertification system
In 2004, the Polish Minister of Health introduced regulations on continuous professional development, based on points from activities such as conventional post-graduate training, conferences, workshops, peer-reviewed meetings, e-courses and publications. Due to this act, the College is now preparing a procedure for assessing educational and quality events in order to ease the recertification process of GPs.
