QUALITY

Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement:

The Ocean Road Cancer Institute is recognised for the delivery of quality medical care and the Institute is extremely passionate in operating within the defined quality standards. In executing daily responsibilities We maintain the following standards:

  1. IAEA Standard
  2. TAEC standards
  3. Maintaining standard for hazardous waste management
  4. Maintaining ISO accreditation;
  5. Following international external quality controls;
  6. Performing clinical audits, quality improvement, mortality and morbidity reviews;
  7. Conducting systematic Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes for ORCI staff;
  8. Observing infection protocols;
  9. Ensuring ethical staff work practices;
  10. Performing regular audits of clinical standards by external organizations;
  11. Maintaining International Hospital Accreditation Standards

Quality Improvement Team:

Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) is the pioneer cancer center which serves all cancer patients from within and outside of Tanzania. Continuous Quality improvement of services is the key to achieving ORCI vision and mission as stipulated in institution Strategic Plan.

In a light to improve the quality of services, the Institute has in place a dedicated Quality Improvement team, which propagate the practice of the 5S KAIZEN TQM. Training to all staff in relation to 5S KAIZEN have been conducted and future continuous training planned. The action plan for the implementation of the 5S programs have been written and adhered, whereas Implementation of the Quality Improvement has been splendid in the past 5 months.

5S is defined as a management tool, which originated in the Japanese manufacturing sector. It is used as a basic, fundamental, systematic approach for productivity, quality and safety improvement in all types of organizations.

Usually, improvement of work processes often is sustained only for a while, and workers may drift back to old habits and managers lose the determination and perseverance. 5S, in contrast, involves all staff members in establishing new disciplines so that they become the new norms of the organization, i.e., internalization of concept, and development of a different culture.

Although the 5S originated in the manufacturing environment, they always translate well to other work situations including hospitals, general offices, telecommunication companies, etc. 5Ss are abbreviations of the Japanese words Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. In English, 5Ss are translated as Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. In Tanzanian context, Kiswahili words are more effective for people to understand easily thus, facilitators of 5S-KAIZEN-TQM have translated 5S English words into Kiswahili words and those are Sasambua (Sort), Seti (Set), Safisha (Shine), Sanifisha (Standardize) and Shikilia (Sustain).

5S is the initial step towards establishing Total Quality Management. There will be no conflict in the implementation of 5S activities even though the organization is implementing other quality improvement approach. 5S will support all quality improvement approaches to move forward.

Ocean Road Cancer Institute has adopted and continues the implementation of the 5S to total quality management, and through the adopted action plan, the outline has been provided on how the TQM will be realized.