Regional Hospital of Tapajós strengthens patient safety with the 'Health in Your Hands' project
PROADI-SUS program drives improvements in hospital care and reduces infections at the unit in western Pará
Since October of last year, the Regional Hospital of Tapajós (HRT), located in the Pará municipality of Itaituba, has been implementing the "Health in Your Hands" project, one of the main initiatives of the Institutional Development Support Program of the Unified Health System (PROADI-SUS).
The action is carried out in partnership with hospitals of excellence and focuses primarily on reducing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), promoting a solid safety culture in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
Evidence-based methodology
Based on validated clinical protocols and continuous improvement methodologies, such as the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, the project aims to optimize care processes and elevate the quality of patient care. The Adult ICU 1 of HRT was chosen as the pilot unit, with technical support from the Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo (BP).
Among the implemented actions are in-person and online training, standardization of care protocols, regular audits, quick safety meetings, and continuous monitoring of care data, allowing for evidence-based decision-making.
According to Andressa Cardoso, the nurse coordinator of the project at the unit, the involvement of professionals has been decisive for the advances achieved. "The active participation of the care team is what allows us to consolidate a safety culture. We are making progress in standardizing processes and improving the quality of care for our patients," she assessed.
Specialized technical support
The technical director of HRT, Lucas Vergani, highlighted the importance of the implemented methodology. "The project uses evidence-based practices and continuous improvement methodologies, such as the PDSA cycle. This has driven the efficiency of care routines and created a safer environment for everyone," he stated.
The project is executed nationally with the technical support of six hospitals of excellence, including the German Hospital Oswaldo Cruz, Albert Einstein Israeli Hospital, and Syrian-Lebanese Hospital. The proposal was collaboratively built by the PROADI-SUS hospitals, together with the Coordination of the National Patient Safety Program (PNSP) and the Department of Hospital Care of the Ministry of Health (CGHOSP/DAHU/SAS/MS).
Commitment to quality in SUS
Leading the management of the project at HRT, the general director of the unit, Jefferson Barbosa, emphasized the strategic relevance of the hospital for western Pará and the pride of being part of the initiative.
“The ‘Health in Your Hands’ was collaboratively developed by the PROADI-SUS hospitals and the technical teams of the Ministry of Health. For us, it is a source of pride to be recognized and to be part of this transformation in SUS,” he highlighted.
The preliminary results of the project at the Regional Hospital of Tapajós indicate significant advances, such as greater integration among care sectors, a significant improvement in adherence to hand hygiene, and the strengthening of the patient safety culture. The actions developed contribute to a safer hospital environment and to the qualification of the care provided to the population of the Tapajós Region.
Managed by the Social Institute Mais Saúde, in partnership with the State Department of Public Health (Sespa), the Regional Hospital of Tapajós is a unit of the Government of Pará. With 153 beds — including Adult, Pediatric, and Neonatal ICUs — the hospital reaffirms its commitment to public health, offering high-quality services to the population of the region.
Text: Sammya Ferreira
