JCI Accreditation
Joint Commission International (JCI)is one of the most widely recognized international accreditation agencies. The company has been working with health care organizations, ministries of health, and global organizations in over 80 countries since 1994. Their focus is on improving the safety of patient care through the provision of accreditation and certification services, as well as through advisory and educational services aimed at helping organizations implement practical and sustainable solutions. To read more about JCI Accreditation, visit their website at www.jointcommissioninternational.org
The International Society for Quality in Health Care
The International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) launched its International Accreditation Program (IAP) in 1999. This is the only international program that 'Accredits the Accreditors'. As of September 2011, there are currently 19 organizations, 35 sets of standards (from 21 organizations) and 8 surveyor training programs accredited by ISQua. To learn more, visit www.isqua.org
National Hospital Accreditation
Many countries manage the accreditation standards that they wish their hospitals, clinics and physicians to maintain in order to best serve their citizens. These hospitals and clinics may also elect to be JCI accredited in addition to their nationally required accreditation. Countries within our network that use a National Hospital Accreditation are:
Mexico
In 1999 Mexico started a National Hospital Certification program that is overseen by the Mexican Consejo de Salubridad General (Mexican Health Council and the Mexican Surgeon General) [www.csg.salud.gob.mx]. Not all hospitals in Mexico have National Hospital Certification although all physicians and hospitals need proper licensure in order to legally practice medicine and render healthcare services. The Mexican government handles the licensure of the country’s physicians. Doctors practicing a specialty are certified by a specialty board after completing the required training and demonstrating proficiency.
New Zealand
The Ministry of Health in New Zealand oversees the HealthCERT process which is responsible for ensuring hospitals, rest homes, residential disability care facilities and fertility providers provide safe and reasonable levels of service for consumers, as required under the Health and Disability Service (Safety) Act 2001 and its amendments. The purpose of the Act is to promote the safe provision of health and disability services, enable the establishment of consistent and reasonable standards for providing those services, encourage providers to take responsibility for providing services to the public safely and encourage providers of health and disability services to continuously improve the quality of those services. To read more about New Zealand’s HealthCERT standards, visit their website at www.health.govt.nz
American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc.The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF) was established in 1980 to develop an accreditation program to standardize and improve the quality of medical and surgical care in ambulatory surgery facilities while assuring the public of high standards for patient care and safety in an accredited facility. Today more than 2000 ambulatory surgery facilities are accredited by AAAASF, the largest not-for-profit accrediting organization in the United States. Many more facilities are in process for accreditation. These numbers have increased dramatically over the last two years. Surgeons, legislators, state and national health agencies and patients acknowledge that AAAASF stands alone as the program setting the "Gold Standard" for quality patient care. You can learn more at www.aaaasf.org.
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) is a private, non-profit organization committed to developing Standards that advance and promote patient safety, quality health care, and value in ambulatory health care settings. Accreditation is awarded to organizations that are found to be in compliance with AAAHC Standards. Accreditation is a voluntary process through which a health care organization is able to measure the quality of its services and performance against nationally-recognized Standards. The accreditation process involves self-assessment by the organization, followed by thorough on-site review by the AAAHC's expert surveyors, who are themselves, health care professionals. For more information, visit AAAHC’s website at www.aaahc.org