WHAT ABOUT ACCREDITATION?

Accreditation is a means by which the medical community evaluates quality and patient safety. The majority of developed nations around the globe have its own means for licensing and accrediting hospitals and medical practitioners. Where the medical system operates at a high level and accreditation systems are strong, such as it is in developed countries like Australia, Canada, China, France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, it is common that only the accreditation arrangement recognized within its borders is utilized.

The better accreditation protocols assess such issues as:
· Governance standards and processes
· Continuous quality improvement
· Standards of medical ethics of the facility and its staff
· Commitment to patient care
· Quality, education, experience and evidence of continuing professional development
· Clinical outcomes
· Infection and disease controls
· Effectively practiced procedures for addressing complaints and errors

ACCREDITATION IN CHINA

The first hospital accreditation programs in China were initiated in 1989. In 2001, the Chinese government updated the accreditation system in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games in order to organize a network of international caliber hospitals for foreign travelers, Chinese citizens requiring specialty care, and expatriates. The China Accreditation Authority, a department of the Ministry of Health, is the Chinese authority overseeing this initiative. The hospitals in CCGH’s Destination Healthcare Network™ each hold a designation of AAA, the highest level granted by the Authority.

Three of the hospitals in the Destination HealthCare™ network are designated as a Center of Medical Excellence by the World Health Organization. In addition, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital earned accreditation from Joint Commission International in December 2006.

INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION

There are several organizations that have entered the international accreditation arena. Harvard Medical International cites the focus on much of this development on its website when it states: "Internationally, the growth of the health care industry has resulted in increased competition, leading hospitals to attempt to differentiate themselves through accreditation and certification by internationally recognized health care evaluators."

In general, much of the emphasis given to international accreditation is admittedly commercial. A presentation by the Managing Director of JCI’s Asia Pacific Office includes in the description of benefits of international accreditation recognition by Payers, Governmental Agencies and Vendors, a marketing tool, and increased patient volumes.

Among nations whose governments are actively engaged in promoting medical travel, 11 have internationally accredited hospitals. Conversely, there are no JCI accredited hospitals in Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Norway, and the United Kingdom combined, nor are there any Trent accredited hospitals in the United States, Canada or Australia.

WHAT ABOUT THE ACCREDITING ORGANIZATIONS:

International accrediting organizations involved in destination healthcare can be categorized in three groups:

UMBRELLA ACCREDITING AGENCIES

The best known and most useful organization is the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua). Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, ISQua does not directly accredit hospitals; rather, ISQua accredits the accreditors. It has 70 members internationally and works through them to improve the quality and safety of the patient medical experience.

INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCIES

JCI is the accrediting agency most familiar to US citizens. It has accredited hospitals in 28 countries and can serve as a good basis for considering medical travel to destinations where medical concerns may exist. JCI has been credentialing international facilities since 1999 and became a member of ISQua in 2008.

Trent Accreditation Scheme is one of a limited few that is recognized as a leading standard. Trent, accredits hospitals in the UK and in Hong Kong only. Trent is a member of ISQua.

Accreditation Canada is a relatively new entrant to direct international accreditation; however, its accrediting process is widely recognized as a model. ISQua has utilized Accreditation Canada’s system as the basis for its reviews since 1995.

MEDICAL TRAVEL ORGANIZATIONS

There is an emerging group of agencies and trade associations who claim to credential or accredit medical tourism facilitators and non-hospital providers, including hotel providers, health tourism travel agencies, non-ambulatory transport vehicles, hospitals with concierge services, airlines, translation companies, and insurance companies.