title: [Healthcare structure and quality among inpatient care providers for health plans in Brazil].
abstract: This study aimed to characterize inpatient care providers for health plans in Brazil, considering that knowledge on healthcare providers is still incipient, particularly in relation to healthcare structure and quality. A national survey was performed, focusing on 3,817 hospitals. A stratified sample of 83 hospitals was selected, and data were collected from September to December 2006 using interviews with hospital administrators. Hospital care was characterized using variables related to installed capacity and services output, as well as practices and structures for healthcare quality assurance and control. The final sample consisted of 74 hospitals, representing an estimated universe of 3,799 hospitals. Inpatient care providers for health plans, mainly for the Unified National Health System (SUS), showed limited presence of structures and practices for improving management and healthcare quality.
authors.affiliation: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. mportela@ensp.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Margareth Crisóstomo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Portela
authors.forename: Sheyla Maria Lemos
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Maria Alícia Dominguez
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ugá
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerschman
authors.forename: Maurício Teixeira Leite de
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017061:Prepaid Health Plans / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care