Accreditation Services

Why Accreditation is needed for Hospitals?

It shows that the hospital is volunteered to undergo a challenging, comprehensive evaluation. It has made a significant extra effort to review and improve the key factors that can affect the quality and safety of patients. The fact that the hospital has gone through NABH evaluation shows an extraordinary commitment to provide safe, high quality care and a willingness to be measured against the highest standards of performance.

Hospital Accreditation and Benefits

NABH Accreditation benefits all stake holders. Patients are the biggest beneficiary. Accreditation results in high quality of care and patient safety. The patients get services by credential medical staff. Rights of patients are respected and protected. Patient satisfaction is regularly evaluated.

The staff in a accredited hospital are satisfied lot as it provides for continuous learning, good working environment, leadership and above all ownership of clinical processes.

Accreditation to a hospital stimulates continuous improvement. It enables hospital in demonstrating commitment to quality care. It raises community confidence in the services provided by the hospital. It also provides opportunity to healthcare unit to benchmark with the best.

Finally, accreditation provides an objective system of empanelment by insurance and other third parties. Accreditation provides access to reliable and certified information on facilities, infrastructure and level of care.

NABH Assessment Process

Involves comprehensive review of hospital's compliance with NABH's standards. Cardinal principles of assessment are:

• hospital operations are based on sound principles of system based organization
• NABH standards are implemented and institutionalize into hospital functioning.
• Patient safety and quality of care, as core values, are established and owned by management and staff in all functions and at all levels.
• there is structured quality improvement programme based on continuous monitoring of patient care services.

Applicable to:

All Hospitals (Primary and multi specialty), Dental Clinics, Blood banks, Eye Banks, and Health care providers.

Presently NABH Offers its Accreditation Services to the following Health Care Providers

• Hospitals
• Blood Banks
• Small Healthcare Organizations
• Oral Substitution Therapy Centers
• Wellness Centers
• AYUSH Hospitals
• Medical Imaging Services
• Dental Facilities
• Medical Testing Laboratories

NABH Assessment Method

NABH has on its panel, qualified and trained assessors for objective evaluation of hospitals. The assessment team will include two or more healthcare professionals including a clinician, healthcare administrator, being rendered by the hospital. The assessment process incorporates interviews with the patients, residents and staff. It calls for on-site visits to patient care areas and to selected departments. Facility tours addressing issues related to physical assessment of infrastructure, medical equipment, security, infection control etc. is integral elements of assessment process.

Ten steps to accreditation:

• Obtain copy of NABH standards
• Carry out self assessment on status of compliance with the NABH standards.
• Identify gap areas and prepare action plan to bridge the gaps.
• Ensure that NABH standards are implemented and integrated with hospital functioning.
• Obtain copy and submit application form for assessment.
• Pay the accreditation fee.
• Receive from NABH the assessment programme including dates and names of assessors.
• Facilitate the assessment.
• Receive recommendation on accreditation.
• Maintain quality improvement programme based on continuous monitoring of patient care services.

Some more benefits that ISO 9001 does not give to the healthcare service providers

Strengthens community confidence in the quality and safety of care, treatment and services

Achieving accreditation makes a strong statement to the community about an organization's efforts to provide the highest quality services.

Provides a competitive edge in the marketplace

Exposure of accreditation status may provide marketing advantage in a competitive health care marketplace and improve the ability to secure new business.

Improves risk management and risk reduction

NABH standards focus on state-of-the-art performance improvement strategies that help health care organizations continuously improve the safety and quality of care, thereby reducing the risk of error or low quality care.

Helps organize and strengthen patient safety efforts

Patient safety and quality of care issues are at the forefront of NABH standards and initiatives.

Provides education on good practices to improve business operations

NABH Resources, the QCI not-for-profit affiliate, provides continuing support and education to accredited organizations, including good practices and other enhancements.

Provides professional advice and counsel thereby enhancing staff education

NABH assessors are experienced health care professionals trained to provide expert advice and education during the on-site survey.

Enhances staff recruitment and development

NABH accreditation can attract qualified personnel who prefer to serve in an accredited organization. Accredited organizations also provide additional opportunities for staff to develop their skills and knowledge.

Provides deeming authority for other certification

Some accredited health care organizations may qualify for other certification with or without undergoing a separate government quality inspection, which eases the burdens of duplicative state regulatory agency surveys.

Recognized by insurers and other third parties

Accreditation is becoming a prerequisite to eligibility for insurance reimbursement, to participation in managed care plans and to bidding on contracts.

May reduce liability insurance costs

By enhancing risk management efforts, accreditation may improve access to and reduce the cost of liability insurance coverage.