Hospital Accreditation
Definition: Hospital accreditation is a process by which an independent organization evaluates a hospital or healthcare facility to ensure it meets specific standards of quality, safety, and performance. Accreditation is typically voluntary but often required for regulatory compliance, funding, or reimbursement from insurance providers.
Purpose:
- To improve the quality and safety of patient care.
- To ensure compliance with established healthcare standards and regulations.
- To promote continuous improvement within healthcare organizations.
Key Points:
- Standards-Based: Hospitals are assessed against established standards covering patient care, management, and operations.
- Periodic Evaluation: Accreditation usually involves regular reviews and evaluations to maintain standards.
- International and National Bodies: Organizations like Joint Commission International (JCI) and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) conduct accreditations.
Hospital Affiliation
Definition: Hospital affiliation refers to a formal relationship between a hospital and another entity, such as a university, research institution, or healthcare network. This relationship can enhance the hospital’s capabilities, resources, or reputation.
Purpose:
- To provide clinical training and education to medical students or healthcare professionals.
- To facilitate research and development in medical sciences.
- To share resources, expertise, and facilities among affiliated entities.
Key Points:
- Educational and Clinical Partnerships: Often involves teaching hospitals affiliated with medical schools.
- Resource Sharing: May include sharing staff, facilities, or technologies.
- Collaborative Efforts: Supports joint research projects, clinical trials, or specialized care services.
Medical Council
Definition: A medical council is a regulatory body responsible for overseeing the medical profession within a specific jurisdiction. It sets standards for medical education, practice, and ethics and is often involved in the licensing and registration of medical practitioners.
Purpose:
- To regulate the medical profession and ensure that practitioners meet required standards.
- To maintain a registry of licensed medical professionals.
- To uphold professional ethics and handle disciplinary matters.
Key Points:
- Licensing and Registration: Medical councils issue licenses to practice and maintain a registry of qualified practitioners.
- Professional Standards: They establish and enforce standards for medical education, training, and practice.
- Disciplinary Authority: Medical councils can investigate and discipline practitioners for misconduct or malpractice.
Summary of Differences
- Accreditation vs. Affiliation: Accreditation focuses on evaluating the quality and safety of a healthcare facility against specific standards, while affiliation involves partnerships or relationships with other institutions for educational, research, or resource-sharing purposes.
- Accreditation vs. Medical Council: Accreditation deals with assessing healthcare facilities, whereas a medical council regulates individual healthcare practitioners and the medical profession as a whole.
- Affiliation vs. Medical Council: Affiliation refers to institutional relationships, often for educational or research purposes, whereas a medical council focuses on regulating the medical profession and practitioners.
Hospital Accreditation & Hospital Affiliation
Africa
- South Africa
- Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA)
- Nigeria
- Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) (involved in quality assurance)
- Egypt
- Egyptian General Authority for Healthcare Accreditation and Regulation (GAHAR)
Asia
- India
- National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH)
- China
- Joint Commission International (JCI) is involved in accrediting some hospitals.
- Japan
- Japan Council for Quality Health Care (JCQHC)
- South Korea
- Korea Institute for Healthcare Accreditation (KOIHA)
- Pakistan
- Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC)
- Bangladesh
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)
- Indonesia
- Indonesian Hospital Accreditation Commission (KARS)
- Malaysia
- Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH)
- Singapore
- Joint Commission International (JCI) for international standards
Europe
- United Kingdom
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- Health Improvement Scotland
- Germany
- Cooperation for Transparency and Quality in Healthcare (KTQ)
- France
- Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS)
- Italy
- Joint Commission International (JCI) for some hospitals
- Spain
- Joint Commission International (JCI) and other regional bodies
- Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Accreditation in Healthcare (NIAZ)
- Sweden
- Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR)
North America
- United States
- The Joint Commission (TJC)
- Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
- National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
- Canada
- Accreditation Canada
- Mexico
- Consejo de Salubridad General (General Health Council)
South America
- Brazil
- Organização Nacional de Acreditação (ONA)
- Argentina
- Instituto Técnico para la Acreditación de Establecimientos de Salud (ITAES)
- Chile
- Superintendencia de Salud
Oceania
- Australia
- Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS)
- New Zealand
- Health and Disability Services Standards (HDSS)
Middle East
- Saudi Arabia
- Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI)
- United Arab Emirates
- Dubai Healthcare City Authority-Regulation (DHCR)
- Joint Commission International (JCI)
- Israel
- Ministry of Health’s National Accreditation Program
- Iran
- Iran Hospital Accreditation System (IHAS)
International
- Joint Commission International (JCI)
- JCI accredits hospitals and healthcare organizations worldwide and is recognized for setting international healthcare standards.
- International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua)
- Provides accreditation to healthcare accrediting bodies, ensuring their processes meet international standards.
Medical registration councils for Doctors organized by country
Africa
- South Africa
- Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
- Nigeria
- Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)
- Kenya
- Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC)
- Egypt
- Egyptian Medical Syndicate
- Ghana
- Medical and Dental Council, Ghana
Asia
- India
- National Medical Commission (NMC)
- Medical Council of India (MCI) (Replaced by NMC)
- China
- National Medical Products Administration (NMPA)
- Japan
- Japan Medical Association (JMA)
- South Korea
- Korean Medical Association (KMA)
- Pakistan
- Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC)
- Bangladesh
- Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC)
- Indonesia
- Indonesian Medical Council
- Malaysia
- Malaysian Medical Council (MMC)
- Singapore
- Singapore Medical Council (SMC)
Europe
- United Kingdom
- General Medical Council (GMC)
- Germany
- German Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer)
- France
- French Medical Council (Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins)
- Italy
- National Federation of the Orders of Surgeons and Dentists (FNOMCeO)
- Spain
- General Council of Official Medical Colleges (CGCOM)
- Netherlands
- Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG)
- Sweden
- National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen)
North America
- United States
- American Medical Association (AMA) (Not a regulatory body but influential in standards)
- Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
- Canada
- Medical Council of Canada (MCC)
- College of Physicians and Surgeons in each province (e.g., College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario)
- Mexico
- Mexican Council of General Medicine (Consejo Mexicano de Medicina General)
South America
- Brazil
- Federal Council of Medicine (Conselho Federal de Medicina)
- Argentina
- Argentine Medical Association (Confederación Médica de la República Argentina)
- Chile
- Medical College of Chile (Colegio Médico de Chile)
Oceania
- Australia
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Medical Board of Australia
- New Zealand
- Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ)
Middle East
- Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS)
- United Arab Emirates
- Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)
- Israel
- Israeli Medical Association (IMA)
- Iran
- Medical Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran