Hospital Accreditation

Healthcare organizations like hospitals are very complex in nature and the medical treatment offered by them are highly technical. This makes it extremely difficult for patients to evaluate whether they are getting right treatment or not. Almost every time patients have to rely on the advice given by doctor and hospital. In this situation, patients cannot have high confidence on the quality of hospital they chose for their healthcare.

Accreditation of hospital serves as a trust building measure between patient and hospital. It can be seen as an assurance given by a third party, which is does not have any materialistic benefit with hospital's image. Patients can have better confidence on the quality of hospital which is accredited, as its quality has been checked and certified by experts of the field.

An accredited hospital, follows a set of standard practices, as instructed by the accrediting body. These standards are developed to make a hospital high quality and safe for patients. These standards are then assessed by assessors, who are experts in field of medical care and hospitals. If hospital is found to follow the accreditation standards, during assessment, the hospital is granted accreditation status.

A patient can expect that an accredited hospital will have following attributes

1. The hospital will have smooth and systematic systems for patient care
2. All measures will be taken to prevent hospital acquired infection to patients
3. All rights of patients will be respected and fulfilled by the hospital
4. All medical procedure like surgeries, medicine administration, investigations etc. will be done in a safe manner
5. Investigation reports will have high level of accuracy
6. The infrastructure of hospital building will be safe and conducive for treatment
7. Records related to patient care will be appropriately maintained
8. All legal formalities are complied by the hospital

There are various types of accreditation available for hospitals. However in India, most prevalent type of accreditation taken by hospitals are NABH accreditation and JCI accreditation. (Click on the link to view list of hospitals accredited by NABH and JCI in India)

Besides this individual componenets of the hospital can also have their accreditation. For example pathology laboratory can have NABL accreditation. Keep reading Hospiman for further articles on types of accreditation in healthcare.

A patient should look for a hospital which is accredited, as one looks for ISI mark electrical instrument while purchasing. Give responsibility of your health to some one who can be trusted.

Also read 'how to select a right hospital for treatment'