The health promoting hospitals (HPH) project and network facilitates change to promote total quality management of the hospital. It produces evidence to help hospitals achieve their health mission and to support cooperation and exchanges of experience between participating hospitals.

Health promotion is considered a core quality dimension of hospital services as well as patient safety and clinical effectiveness. Against the rising incidence of chronic diseases, the provision of health promotion services is an important factor for sustained health, quality of life and efficiency.

The project also addresses the health of staff and the link of the hospital to its community. It has the following objectives:

• To change the culture of hospital care towards interdisciplinary working, transparent decision-making and with active involvement of patients and partners.
• To evaluate health promotion activities in the health care setting and build an evidence-base in this area.
• To incorporate standards and indicators for health promotion in existing quality management systems at hospital and at national  levels.

Various international task forces are also working towards achieving these objectives.

Working for health
33 networks & more than 700 hospitals