This morning, Saturday, June 9th, 2012, His Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, honored a number of the MOH hospitals which managed to obtain the accreditation of the Joint Commission International (JCI Accreditation Standards for Hospitals), globally recognized as the world's pioneer in the field of health facilities accreditation. This marks the culmination of the colossal efforts exerted by these hospitals over the past twelve unremitting months, in their quest to improve health services, and conform to the patient-safety standards, thus putting into effect the MOH slogan: “Patient First!” These hospitals are: King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (Riyadh), Saud Al-Babtain Cardiac Center (Dammam), King Fahad Specialist Hospital (Dammam), King Fahad Medical City (Riyadh), Ajyad Emergency Hospital (Makkah), Heraa General Hospital (Makkah), King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital (Taif), King Saud Hospital (Unaizah), and King Fahad Hospital (Jeddah).
On this occasion, His Excellency the Minister of Health expressed his deep and sincere gratitude for the Custodian of the Two Mosques, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, May Allah protect them, for their unstinting support, without which King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (Riyadh), Saud Al-Babtain Cardiac Center (Dammam), King Fahad Specialist Hospital (Dammam), King Fahad Medical City (Riyadh), Ajyad Emergency Hospital (Makkah), Heraa General Hospital (Makkah), King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital (Taif), King Saud Hospital (Unaizah), and King Fahad Hospital (Jeddah) would have not managed to obtain the JCI Accreditation. Dr. Al-Rabeeah extended his thanks, also, to all who took part in the accomplishment of such a momentous achievement, especially health workers in Riyadh Region, the Eastern Region, Makkah Region, and Al-Qassim Region, as well as the employees of Jeddah Health Affairs Directorate and Taif Health Affairs Directorate. It didn’t escape Dr. Al-Rabeeah's notice to thank, besides, all health workers at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (Riyadh), Saud Al-Babtain Cardiac Center (Dammam), King Fahad Specialist Hospital (Dammam), King Fahad Medical City (Riyadh), Ajyad Emergency Hospital (Makkah), Heraa General Hospital (Makkah), King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital (Taif), King Saud Hospital (Unaizah), and King Fahad Hospital (Jeddah). Dr. Al-Rabeeah affirmed, “The accreditation of these hospitals is but the first fruit of our efforts. Six other MOH hospitals are projected to obtain this accreditation over this year: King Abdulaziz Hospital (Jeddah), King Khaled Hospital (Najran), King Saud Medical City (Riyadh), King Fahad Hospital (Al-Baha), King Fahad Hospital (Al-Hofouf), and Assir Hospital.”
It is worth mentioning that the accreditation of these hospitals comes as the natural outcome of the strenuous efforts made by these hospitals, seeking to make significant improvements, and adopt the measures, standards and specifications which meet the internationally conceded healthcare requirements. These hospitals have managed to apply the 14 standards, encompassing 318 criteria, depending on 1210 measures. These standards are divided into two main groups: the first group is patient-centered, that has to do with the global objectives of patient-safety, the access and sustainability of healthcare services, patient rights, the evaluation of patients, looking after them, sterilization and surgical care, drug management, and raising patients' awareness. This group comprises a number of 166 criteria and 653 measures. It is meant to ensure a safe environment for patients, health workers, outpatients and beneficiaries, as well as stressing the commitment of health facilities to ongoing development.
On the other hand, the second group is basically centered on the management of healthcare facilities. It has to do with improvement of the quality of health services provided for patients, infection control and prevention, the management of health institutions, as well as the safety measures at health facilities, the qualification and training of health workers, in addition to information management and communication. This group comprises a number of 152 criteria and 557 measures. Needless to mention, the quality and accreditation programs, as well as patient safety, stand out as the MOH's major strategic objective. In its quest to attain this objective, the Ministry proceeds from its staunch belief of the importance of achieving excellence in this domain, and abides by the directives given by the Wise Leadership to maintain the Saudi patients' safety, security, and, accordingly, satisfaction and contentment.
For his part, His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Health for Planning and Development, Dr. Mohammed Khoshaim, said, “The improvement of health services provided for patients, and the promotion of patient safety, have become the Ministry's top priorities and major strategic objectives. In this spirit, all efforts have been centered upon the concept of quality, with the effect that the culture of quality has become overwhelming the discourse of health policy makers. The several quality programs adopted by the Ministry of Health (MOH) could be seen as manifestations of the MOH officials' unshakable insistence on moving to a new phase of healthcare quality and patient safety.”
The WHO Representative at KSA, Dr. Mustafa Tayan, for his part, said, “The MOH's palpable tendency towards the enhancement and accentuation of the concept of quality at all hospitals is a crucial strategy for diminishing and avoiding the complications brought about by medical intervention at health facilities, as well as the institutionalization and humanization of health services provided for the Kingdom's citizens and residents. That's to be added to giving rise to the principle of positive competition among health institutions, seeking to attain the highest level of healthcare quality.”
In the same context, the MOH Spokesman, Dr. Khaled bin Mohammed Marghalani said, “The MOH is working on the preparation of a number of its hospitals to get the JCI Accreditation, after 30 hospitals, throughout the Kingdom, had obtained the accreditation of the Central Board of Accreditation for Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI). Other ten MOH hospitals are being prepared to apply for the JCI Accreditation. It is crystal clear that the Kingdom's health sector has been receiving the largest share of the Leadership's interest and support. This was evidently reflected in the directives given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, May Allah protect them, underscoring patients' health and well-being, by way of prioritizing the health quality and accreditation programs, and embracing the advanced scientific methodology, thus coping with the world's best and highest health care services, leading up to obtaining the JCI Accreditation. This could be only achieved by meeting the internationally conceded standards, to provide best-quality healthcare services.”
It followed that Dr. Marghalani went on to highlight the principles and objectives embraced by the Ministry of Health (MOH), proceeding from its staunch belief in the pivotal importance of the development of healthcare services, most notably the services and programs that have to do with quality, assessment, monitoring and transparency. “To that end,” he said, “the Ministry has adopted a number of phased plans to evaluate its attitude, through the CBAHI, and then the JCI, with the aim to grant accreditation to all MOH facilities.”
He added, “These hospitals have got the assessment of seven chapters of the JCI Fourth Edition: Access to Care and Continuity of Care (ACC), Application Specific Controllers (ASC), Governance, Leadership, and Direction (GLD), Patient and Family Education (PFE), Patient and Family Rights (PFR), Quality and Patient Safety (QPS), and Management of Communication Information (MCI).”
Dr. Marghalani continued, “This would have not been accomplished without the effective participation of the directors of hospitals in raising health awareness among Makkah's people. They made good use of the international health events to raise the Saudi people's awareness, by organizing health events in the markets and malls over the year. That's to be added to lectures, competitions, exhibitions, etc.”
Dr. Marghalani pointed mentioned that the JCI team was impressed by the health services provided for the patients receiving treatment under the Home Medicine Program, which is supported by a proficient constellation of physicians covering all medical specialties and complying with safety standards.
It should be noted that King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital was opened in the reign of the deceased Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahad bin Abdulaziz, May Allah bless his soul, in 1984. It is meant to provide specialized healthcare services for patients, serving as a referential center receiving serious and rare cases. It accommodates 363 beds, and receives referred patients from all over the Kingdom at the Primary Healthcare Clinics, and the Emergency Section.
On the other hand, Saud Al-Babtain Cardiac Center, in Dammam, has taken momentous steps and accomplished significant achievements. As a result, it was granted many international recognitions and accreditations, and provided high-quality health services for the people of the Eastern Region. The Center was first set to work in 2001.
King Fahad Specialist Hospital, in Dammam, is reckoned one of the largest and high-profile specialist hospitals operated by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Providing accurate and sophisticated health services, the hospital is reckoned one of the world's first-class specialized hospitals. The hospital was established at a total cost of one billion and ninety-two million US dollars, with a total bed capacity of 633 beds. King Fahad Specialist Hospital is based in Dammam, and is reckoned one of the largest health institutions in the Eastern region and the entire GCC countries.
King Fahad Medical City was opened in 2004, and is reckoned one of the largest and most medical complexes in the Middle East. It accommodates 1095 beds, and comprises four hospitals meant to provide treatment for 50.000 inpatients and 60.000 outpatients. The main hospital accommodates 459 beds, aside from the specialized clinics meant to provide diagnostic and curative services for patients. The Medical Rehabilitation Hospital accommodates 159 beds, and provides various levels of healthcare. The Children hospital accommodates 246 beds, whereas the Women's Specialist Hospital accommodates 236 beds, in addition to 30 fully equipped operations rooms, and several ICU beds. Ajyad hospital, on the other hand, provides emergency services by means of its 50 ICU beds.
Heraa Hospital was opened in 1984, with a total bed capacity 277 beds and 20 ICU beds. It covers all medical specialties, including emergency, internal medicine, rheumatism, cardiology, chest diseases, gastroenterology, neurology, endocrinology, general surgery, pediatrics, newborns ICU, ENT, radiology, sterilization, day surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.
King Abdulaziz Hospital, in Taif, was set to work in 2002. It accommodates 500 beds, in addition to 277 mobile beds, including 28 emergency beds, 60 newborn beds, and 76 dialysis beds. King Saud Hospital, in Unaizah, on the other hand, was opened in 1990, at an area of 140.000 m2, and accommodates 362 beds for all specialties. It provides healthcare services in the following medical fields: emergency, hospitalization, radiology, outpatient clinics, surgery, physical therapy, medical rehabilitation, intensive care, pharmacy, laboratories and blood banks, training and education, medical recording and archiving, dentistry, nutrition, kidney center and computer science.
King Fahad Hospital, in Jeddah, was opened in 1980. It accommodates 612 beds. It's reckoned one of the medical hall marks in Jeddah, as it's the largest MOH hospital in the whole region. It is, besides, the region's referential hospital in cases of emergency or traffic accidents. The hospital comprises a number of specialized medical centers, such as the cardiac center, the ENT center, the kidney center, the dentistry center, the recovery center, and Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz for Developed Endoscopy Surgery.
It is noteworthy that obtaining the JCI accreditation ensures many advantages: promotion of public confidence in the healthcare services provided in the accredited health institution, and increasing the institution's experience by learning from others shortcomings and concerns (especially with regard to healthcare quality and patient safety), as well as maintaining a secure work environment gaining health-worker's satisfaction, and forming a cooperative leadership aspiring to excellence in healthcare quality, patient safety, and the ways to proceed on the ongoing development of the health institution.
The Honoring Ceremony was attended by the two deputies Minister of Health, the undersecretaries and assistant undersecretaries of the Minister, and a number of the Shura Council, as well as the directors of a number of health affairs directorates (those of Makkah, Al-Qassim, Riyadh, the Eastern Region, Jeddah Province, and Taif). The Ceremony was attended, also, by the directors of the JCI-accredited hospitals, the WHO Representative at the Kingdom, and the Chairman of the Executive Board of the GCC Council of Arab Ministers of Health, in addition to a number of officials.