Al-Baha Health Affairs General Directorate has achieved a distinctive medical accomplishment as King Fahad Hospital in Al-Baha obtained the accreditation of the Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation Standards for Hospitals; which is considered the global pioneer in accrediting health care and patient safety institutions. It is, thus, the 17th hospital to acquire the (JCI) Accreditation Certificate within the Ministry's strategic system to qualify its services and improve the level of its facilities’ performance.
The Director General of Al-Baha Health Affairs, Hussein Al-Rawi Al-Reweli, asserted that promoting the quality of health services and improving the level of patient safety have become a priority of the ministry and one of its strategic focuses. Mr. Al-Reweli clarified that the hospital started preparing for the Accreditation a year and a half ago. It initiated its activities by setting policies and identifying standards to be concordant with the JCI standards. Intensive specialized training programs were held with regards to this field, indicating that the hospital’s board of directors has been following up, in all the meetings, the stages of preparation for the evaluation. Furthermore, the General Directorate contributed to removing all obstacles, especially with respect to supporting and qualifying cadres and infrastructure.
He added, “The American evaluation team was impressed by the exerted efforts, as well as the high spirit overwhelming the working groups of all sections and divisions. He was quoted as saying, “All employees consider this award as a starting point to be distinguished with the services they offer; a starting point rather than an ultimate objective in itself. It is, also, a fulfillment of one of the Ministry's strategic objectives.
Al-Reweli went on to say, “This Certificate means guaranteeing patient safety, and provision of a healthy safe environment for patients, their families and beneficiaries of the hospital services; which accommodates 320 beds, whereas its operational capacity mounts to 580 beds.”
It is worth mentioning that 67 hospitals and health centers acquired accreditation certificates, 17 of which acquired the international accreditation; whereas 50 hospitals acquired the local accreditation certificate after excessive efforts and constant work to accomplish many improvements and adopt international standards, qualifications and specifications consistent to international requirements applied by prominent health facilities. The City is abiding by the JCI 14 axes, comprising 318 standards, using 1210 measures.
In addition, these standards are divided into two sections: the first concentrates on patient safety, provision of continuous health care, rights of patients and their families, in addition to patients’ evaluation, ways to care for them, anesthetization, surgical care, drug management and use, educating patients and their families. That’s after 166 standards and 653 qualification elements. Those qualified elements help guarantee the provision of a safe environment for patients, workers, visitors and beneficiaries of services; and ensure the implementation of facilities to constant improvements.
As for the second section, it concentrates on managing the health care institution, improving quality and patient safety, aside from protection against and combating infections. In addition, it focuses on leadership and management, institution management and safety, employees' qualifications and training, information management and communication, by means of 152 standards and 557 qualification components.
On the other hand, the MOH is currently directing 13 hospitals for evaluation by (JCI), as well as directing 40 hospitals for assessment by the Central Board for Accreditation of Health Institutions (CBAHI), bringing the total to 119 hospitals. Moreover, 20 private hospitals have acquired local and international accreditation certificates.
It should be noted that MOH witnesses a comprehensive developmental movement in all health and medical facilities and services, in an endeavor to attain patients’ satisfaction, and the provision of high-quality health services, in accordance with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to provide health care services for citizens; proceeding from the staunch belief that “nothing overrides the health of citizens.” That's to be added to the significance of exerting sincere efforts to meet health needs of citizens and enhancing the level of the Ministry’s performance according to the National Project for Integrated and Comprehensive Health Care and the MOH strategic plan.