The importance of int’l accreditation for hospitals

When it comes to healthcare, most people will always demand for the best that they can afford. And for that reason, total quality is of utmost importance.

Much like the importance given by businesses, small and big alike, to be awarded the International Standards for Organizations seal (better known as ISO), today’s consumer recognizes that international standards developed by distinguished organizations are very useful to business because they make for a positive difference in the way a company operates.

This is the mission of the Joint Commission International (JCI), an international organization recognized worldwide for setting a high level of quality care standards.

The accreditation given by JCI bears that gold seal that meets the need of recognition of quality healthcare providers throughout the world.

JCI has set standards intended to help hospitals achieve the highest performance possible, improve patient outcomes and create an environment for continuous improvement.

At the same time, a JCI accreditation makes a strong statement to the community about a hospital’s desire to provide nothing but the best.

JCI is a subsidiary of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

For more than 75 years, JCI and its predecessor, the American College of Surgeons, have been dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare organizations in the United States and around the world.

In 1999, to address a worldwide interest and demand for an objective standards-based process for evaluating healthcare organizations, JCI launched its international accreditation program.

A 16-member team representing seven major regions of the world was tasked to develop standards that were internationally applicable.

As a result, the team developed accreditation standards that are based on international consensus standards and set uniform, attainable expectations for structures, processes and outcomes for hospitals.

As a whole, the JCI standards focus on assessing organizational performance and stimulating continuous improvements to achieve optimum outcomes.

The JCI evaluates compliance based on defined key elements that underscore an organization’s commitment to assessment and care of patients, rights and education for patients and their families, quality improvement and patient safety, prevention and control of infections, governance leadership and direction, facility management and safety, staff qualification and education, and management of information.

To date, the JCI has accredited 42 hospitals in 11 countries outside of the United States and Canada.

Any organization that wishes to apply for JCI accreditation should submit documents containing a comprehensive description of the organization along with essential information that includes the ownership, demographics, and types and volumes of services provided.

The application for survey must include all official records, reports and documents pertaining to licensing, regulatory and governmental requirements.

A letter granting JCI the authority to obtain any records and reports not in the possession of the organization must also be included.

If the organization is eligible, it is subjected to a rigid and thorough accreditation survey evaluating the organization’s compliance with JCI standards.

Accreditation surveys can take anywhere between three and five days, depending on the size and amount of information that needs to be assessed.

Compliance with standards is evaluated based on interviews with staff and patients, on-site observation of patient care processes by the surveyors, and a review of policies, procedures and other documents provided by the organization.

During the on-site survey, continued self-assessment helps organizations identify and correct problems and improve quality of care and services.

It is also during this time that organizations benefit from the team of surveyors, composed of a JCI certified doctor, nurse and hospital administrator, all trained experts in their fields and experienced to provide education in support of quality improvement activities.

If an organization passes the survey, the accreditation is valid for three years, during which an organization is expected to maintain the standards and quality improvement process.

At the end of the three-year period, an organization must re-apply and subject itself to another on-site survey conducted by JCI.