June8 ^th, 2010,
Abu Dhabi, UAE

Al Rahba Hospital, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine, has announced the completion of a reaccreditation program conducted by Joint Commission International (JCI) in a ceremony held recently at the hospital grounds in Abu Dhabi, UAE. As the first public hospital in UAE to receive JCI accreditation in 2006, this latest review revalidates Al Rahba Hospital’s commitment to safety and quality care through adopting international standards and processes. Al Rahba Hospital is part of the SEHA HealthSystem and is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) and managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International.

Accreditation is a process in which an entity separate and distinct from the healthcare organization—usually non-governmental—assesses the healthcare organization to determine if it meets a set of standard requirements designed to improve quality of care. This voluntary process provides a visible commitment by an organization to continually ensure a safe environment for its patients and staff. By volunteering for international accreditation programs like JCI, valid for a period of three years, Al Rahba Hospital has established various practices further improving patient care and safety within the hospital.

Accreditation by Joint Commission International is an assurance by an internationally accredited 3rd party that a healthcare organization meets or exceeds the highest standards in healthcare standards including infection control, patient safety and quality patient care. Re-accreditation is significant since standards are even more strictly applied during re-accreditation surveys.

Carl Stanifer, CEO of SEHA and the SEHA HealthSystem stated that, “The accreditation process plays an important role for the public in validating the quality services delivered at our hospitals. The accreditation status granted from the JCI also ensures that Al Rahba Hospital is delivering the highest standards of quality services. Because we intend to develop a healthcare system on par with the best systems in the world, accreditation is a recognition we must have, and would like accreditation for all facilities in the SEHA HealthSystem”

At present, Al Rahba, Corniche, Tawam, SEHA Ambulatory Healthcare Centre in Khalifa City A, SKMC Hospital, SKMC Outpatient Clinics, Abu Dhabi Blood Bank and Tawam Dental Clinic have all achieved accreditation.

“We are very proud of this achievement, and I would like to personally congratulate the employees at Al Rahba Hospital and our managing partner Johns Hopkins Medicine International on their accomplishment,” Mr. Stanifer added. “It was their hard work and dedication to excellence that resulted in this re-accreditation; an honor for their hospital and the SEHA HealthSystem.”

Timothy Dentry, interim CEO of Al Rahba Hospital, noted that JCI reaccreditation is an important achievement for Al Rahba Hospital and a major milestone in delivering top-quality care to the community and the region. “Its standards are not only rigorous, but they are also sensitive to each country’s unique cultural heritage,” noted Dentry. “JCI accreditation is a key component of high-quality health care and is regarded as a best practice by health care leaders around the world.”

Further commenting on the news, Mohamed A. Al Daheri, CMU Manager with the SEHA HealthSystem, said that healthcare is a dynamic and growing sector within the UAE in which providers should continue to raise their standards in line with international accreditation bodies like JCI. “This accreditation is another significant step in our vision of becoming a premier national center of excellence for healthcare in the region, and we are looking forward to widening our expertise in order to meet global healthcare standards,” added Al Daheri.

Within the past year, Al Rahba Hospital has introduced a number of new initiatives including the establishment of the Women’s Health Initiative Program, the High Risk Pregnancy Clinic, the Smoking Cessation Clinic and the Advanced Laser Unit in the ophthalmology clinic, to name a few. The hospital has also leveraged its relationship with the SEHA HealthSystem and its sister facilities by harnessing new resources and opportunities. Some of these most recent projects include the first mammogram in collaboration with Tawam Hospital Mobile Breast Care Service, the deployment of Oracle ERP in all hospital departments, and the establishment of transparency audits for the institution as a whole. Several Cerner Millennium IT solutions have also been successfully installed at the hospital and will assist in automating processes in administration and practice departments.

Joint Commission International (JCI) is recognized today as a world leader in accreditation standards, with a strong focus on quality improvement and patient safety. Working with global healthcare organizations in over 80 countries, JCI has accredited 13 healthcare facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi alone. The commission possesses a high level of expertise in a number of performance areas including infection control, medication safety and facility safety.