Celebrating Avedis Donabedian Foundation Week!
Our foundation was founded on July 13, 1989, by Dr. Àlvar Net, Dr. Jaume Suñol, and Dr. Vicente Ortun.
The directors were Dr. Rosa Suñol and Dr. Lluís Bohigas.
Interview with our President, Dr. Rosa Suñol:
As president of the FAD, how would you define it?
The Avedis Donabedian Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated since 1989 to improving quality in the healthcare and social care sector. It is named in honor of Professor Avedis Donabedian, a pioneer in the systematization of healthcare quality assessment and its methodology. In 2000, we joined the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) as a University Institute.
Our mission is to contribute to improving the quality of care and outcomes from a social and health perspective for individuals and communities, through the generation and dissemination of knowledge and the application of innovative solutions. Our main objective is to ensure that people receive effective, efficient, safe, and needs-focused care with the greatest possible equity.
To achieve this, we collaborate with various institutions, both public and private, developing innovative projects and offering tools that allow professionals and administrations to continuously improve their performance and the health and social well-being outcomes of the population.
In your opinion, what does the FAD contribute to society?
The Avedis Donabedian Foundation is an ally of citizens, professionals, and administrations for the continuous improvement of the quality of health and social services. Through our research and evaluation activities, we provide data and analysis that help identify areas for improvement in health and social care. We also offer training and capacity building for professionals in the sector, fostering a culture of excellence and safety in the care of people, as well as respect and trust among all those involved. Our innovative projects and collaborations with various institutions allow us to implement more efficient and effective practices and systems.
Ultimately, we aspire for our work to contribute to people receiving more humane, safe, and high-quality care, thus improving their well-being and autonomy.
What would you highlight about the FAD's past?
Regarding the Avedis Donabedian Foundation's past, I would highlight its pioneering role nationally and internationally in quality assessment and improvement since its inception. This has allowed it to disseminate its quality methodology and support the development of quality plans in all areas of health and social services in our country.
Over the years, the foundation has been recognized for its significant contribution to professional training, having trained the majority of professionals in the sector. Also notable is the design and implementation of evaluation indicators in scientific societies and social centers and the promotion of quality standards in the healthcare field through the Joint Commission model. An important milestone was the introduction of the Avedis Donabedian Awards, which recognize excellence in institutional quality and have inspired many organizations to improve their practices.
I would also like to highlight the foundation's international expansion, through collaboration with established international research teams for over 25 years and the implementation of quality research and assessment programs in several Latin American and European countries.
What do you expect for the future?
We believe that in the future we must continue promoting practices that support excellence in personal care, remaining key allies of all those involved in continuous improvement.
This involves working on several key initiatives. First, we will continue promoting research and innovation, developing new methodologies and tools to assess and improve care quality. Furthermore, we will intensify our efforts in the training and development of professionals, ensuring that they are equipped with the new knowledge and skills necessary to implement excellent practices.
Our support and advisory work for healthcare and social services institutions will continue to be essential, ensuring that teams are always at the forefront of quality methodologies and practices, helping these organizations adapt and improve their systems and processes to meet new needs with solutions, and helping governments develop policies that facilitate this.
A very important focus will be contributing to increasing the autonomy and well-being of people, especially the most vulnerable, which will become particularly relevant in the coming years, both in terms of participation in decision-making and in self-care and community support.
Likewise, we will also foster international collaboration, sharing experiences and best practices globally with prestigious institutions, thus contributing to a more humane and effective healthcare and social system.
What is your experience after so many years at the FAD?
Reflecting on my years as director and currently Chair of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, I consider it to have been an exciting experience. I feel proud and grateful for the achievements and experiences I've had. It has been an honor to lead an organization dedicated to improving the quality of care and seeing how our efforts have had a tangible impact on the lives of so many people.
One of the most rewarding aspects has been working with a truly multidisciplinary, innovative, committed, and passionate team, whose dedication and professionalism have been fundamental to our success. Together, we have faced significant challenges, but we have also celebrated important victories, such as the expansion and development of quality in our country and the expansion of our programs internationally.
Each project and collaboration has been an opportunity to learn and grow, and I am particularly proud of our passion for innovation, which has allowed us to adapt to changes and promote advances in the social and health fields.
Interview with our Area Director, Dr. María del Mar:
In your opinion, what does the FAD contribute to society?
I believe that from the beginning, the FAD has managed to position itself as a meeting place between research and the "real world," bringing quality methodology closer to both the healthcare and social sectors, knowing how to identify needs and seek concrete and effective solutions, while also being able to support the strategic processes of public administrations based on its experience and also with a humanistic and ethical approach.
What is your experience after so many years at the FAD?
Working with a team of people with vast experience, a capacity for work, and a passion for what they do, in addition to confirming that people matter and that there are values that underpin what we do.
Could you describe the evolution of external evaluation at the FAD?
At the FAD, we have worked for many years with the Joint Commission International accreditation model because we believe it provides a very powerful evaluation methodology, transversal to the organization, focused on the patient's journey and the main processes that impact care. It is a model that is updated with the healthcare sector itself and that we consider highly useful as a tool for continuous improvement in the quality of care.
We have also collaborated in the development and implementation of other models at the national and European level, and also in collaboration with scientific societies. External evaluation is a great stimulus for improvement, provided that the methodology is able to delve deeper into "how we do things" and thus identify possible necessary changes.
How do you see the future of external evaluation at the FAD?
We will undoubtedly continue working in the healthcare sector, although it is important to adapt to other care modalities, such as home hospitalization or the reality of chronicity and the evaluation of continuity of care.
We also believe there is a significant future in the social sphere, where quality improvement methodology needs further development and external evaluation can undoubtedly contribute significantly.
