Improving healthcare quality requires continuous assessment, infection control, patient safety and stronger nursing practices, speakers said at a state-level Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) seminar organised by the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) on Tuesday.
The two-day seminar, being held on September 22 and 23 at the NHAK Auditorium Hall, is themed “Quality in Healthcare: Empowering Safe, Effective and Patient-Centred Care.” About 100 nursing personnel from different parts of Nagaland are attending the programme.
The seminar focuses on updating nursing personnel on quality healthcare practices in line with the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS).
Delivering the keynote address, NHAK Nursing Superintendent Pinuo Nakhro introduced participants to the NQAS framework and said healthcare quality should not be measured only by infrastructure and equipment. She stressed that quality results from sustained efforts, effective implementation and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Nakhro highlighted internal quality assessment, quality improvement tools and performance monitoring to identify gaps and improve services. She said quality improvement is “not a one-time exercise” but an ongoing process of observation, assessment, correction and improvement.
Infection prevention and control is a key focus, with sessions addressing hospital-acquired infections, environmental hygiene and safe clinical practices. Nakhro stressed that infection control requires collective responsibility, including proper hand hygiene and adherence to appropriate precautions.
The seminar also covers corrective and preventive action, biomedical waste management, occupational safety and patient safety. Nursing-specific quality areas, standard precautions, documentation, quality indicators and key performance indicators are also being discussed.
Nakhro emphasised the importance of proper documentation for continuity of care and highlighted patient rights, communication, medication safety and prevention of medication errors. She also stressed early recognition of clinical deterioration and timely response.
Organising Secretary Vezhodulu Swiho said the seminar was organised not merely for CNE credit points but to strengthen nursing capacity as NQAS gains importance across healthcare facilities, including rural facilities and sub-centres.
A pre-test was conducted before the technical sessions to assess participants’ existing understanding of healthcare quality. The seminar will conclude on September 23.