Pursuing an accreditation or a certification is a regular decision by professionals or organizations to get a significant differentiation from the competitors, validate the knowledge or efficiency of their operations, and upgrade their reputation in the sector. These accomplishments are evaluations created and measured by third-party companies, following well-defined standards and pushing the industry forward. Also, the gathered data helps to develop local, regional, and global benchmarks, redefining the best practices and helping to improve.
Every sector has its own certifications, and healthcare is no exception. For healthcare institutions, the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation exists; this program assesses how a hospital delivers care to the patient, mitigates risks, and engages both patients and staff.
The hospitals that achieved the JCI Accreditation have minimized patient safety risks, improved the clinical and operational processes, connected with similar healthcare organizations facilitating the best practices, achieved a differentiator in the competitive healthcare sector, and strengthened the stakeholders' confidence by proving they provide the highest quality services.
How to achieve the JCI accreditation under the Hospital Program
There are 5 steps to achieve this accreditation:
1️⃣Learn. Learning is the first stage of the process and will help to prepare for the journey ahead.
2️⃣Prepare. This step is largely about setting up for the initial JCI survey. This process is patient-centered, data-driven, and focused on evaluating actual care processes.
3️⃣ Act. After getting prepared, it's time for a survey. During the evaluation, experts visit the organization and evaluate more than a thousand elements. Through interviews and inspections, it provides an assessment of the effectiveness of the organization's patient safety and quality system.
4️⃣Sustain. Continuously improving the organization's health is critical. To do so, staff must continue refining processes and implementing enhancements.
5️⃣Excel. The JCI journey does not end with an accreditation award. JCI provides numerous resources to help health companies sustain compliance with quality and patient safety standards.
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JCI accreditation landscape in Saudi Arabia
For more than two decades, the hospitals located in the Middle East and Africa region have represented important players in healthcare services on a global scale. In 2006, JCI opened a regional office in Dubai, accrediting more than 400 organizations in the Middle East and Africa, with 27% of these located in Saudi Arabia.
In March of 2023 it was announced the opening of Joint Commission Arabia Management, a new office in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, aiming to expand the organization's presence in the Middle East and Africa region. This office will be staffed and serviced by local staff.
As of October of 2023, 659 healthcare centers globally have earned the Gold Seal of Approval by the JCI under the Hospital Program, of which only 78 were located in Saudi Arabia, representing around 15% of all healthcare centers in the country.
Ecaresoft’s solutions as part of the JCI accreditation for hospitals
Ecaresoft has developed digital solutions (Anytime for outpatients and Cirrus for inpatients) that have helped hospitals to successfully address the JCI requirements and earn the Gold Seal of Approval regarding software and digital processes.
