What is NABH Accreditation?
NABH stands for the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers. It is an autonomous body established in India to set and maintain standards for the quality and accreditation of healthcare facilities.
NABH accreditation is a recognition given to healthcare organizations that meet certain predetermined standards and criteria for patient care, management, and overall service quality. The accreditation process involves a thorough evaluation of various aspects of a healthcare facility, including infrastructure, patient care, safety protocols, medical records, and overall management.
Key components of NABH accreditation include:
• Leadership and Management: Assessing the leadership's commitment to quality, the effectiveness of management systems, and the overall governance of the healthcare facility.
• Patient-Centric Approach: Ensuring that the organization is focused on patient safety, satisfaction, and provides timely and effective care.
• Quality of Care: Evaluating the clinical services, medical records, infection control practices, and the overall quality of healthcare delivery.
• Staff Competency and Training: Assessing the competence of healthcare professionals, their training, and ongoing professional development.
• Infrastructure and Facility Management: Examining the physical infrastructure, safety measures, and the overall management of facilities.
• Continuous Quality Improvement: Ensuring that the healthcare organization has mechanisms in place for continuous monitoring, evaluation, and improvement of its services.
NABH accreditation is considered a mark of excellence in healthcare services, and it instills confidence in patients, healthcare providers, and stakeholders. It is a voluntary process, but many healthcare organizations pursue accreditation as a means to demonstrate their commitment to quality and patient safety.
The accreditation process involves a comprehensive on-site assessment by qualified healthcare professionals, and organizations must comply with the set standards to achieve and maintain accreditation status. Regular audits and reviews are conducted to ensure ongoing adherence to the established standards. NABH accreditation is not only a recognition of quality but also a continuous journey towards improving healthcare standards and practices.
Benefits of NABH Accreditation
Quality Improvement
The accreditation process encourages healthcare facilities to implement and maintain high standards of patient care, leading to continuous quality improvement in services.
Patient Safety
NABH Accreditation emphasizes patient safety protocols and practices, ensuring a safe environment for patients and reducing the risk of medical errors.
Enhanced Credibility
Accreditation serves as a mark of credibility for healthcare organizations. It demonstrates a commitment to quality and patient-centric care, which can build trust among patients, their families, and the community.
International Recognition
NABH Accreditation is recognized globally, enhancing the reputation of Indian healthcare facilities on an international scale. This can be particularly important for medical tourism.
Standardized Processes
The accreditation process involves the implementation of standardized processes and protocols, leading to improved efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare delivery.
Professional Development
The emphasis on staff competency and training as part of the accreditation process promotes ongoing professional development for healthcare professionals, leading to a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce.
NABH Accredited Video
Who can be Accredited NABH Accreditation?
This Accreditation is available for Healthcare and Hospital facilities that provide allopathic services. It includes clinics, polyclinics, or dispensaries.
Hospitals
Blood Bank
Blood Storage Centre
Wellness Centres
Dental Facilities
Nursing Home
Allopathic Clinics
AYUSH Hospitals
Pollyclinics
Medical Imaging Services
Panchakarma Clinic
Eye Care Organizations
Primary Health Centre
Integrated Rehabilitation Centre
Small Health Care Organization
Who can issue NABH Accreditation ?
NABH Accreditation
Documents Required for NABH Accreditation
- System Manual
- System Procedure
- Policy
- Objectives
- Mission & Vision
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
- Checklist
- Forms
- Formats
- Records
The extent of Documented Information differs as per:
- Organization's size
- Activities performed by the organization
- Processes undertaken by the Organization
- Products and services offered by the organization
- The complexity of processes undertaken
- Competence of persons involved
Role of Shamkris and Process of NABH
Shamkris adopts a results-oriented approach to effective system implementation in the organization. A simple and practical method of system implementation helps organizations increase business efficiency and sustainability. Shamkris supports 100% documentation to obtain an accreditation body of success in addition to enhanced performance.
The implementation process is described below:
Day 1
GAP Analysis, Cost Estimates, Application to Accreditation Body
• Finding the GAP between existing system related to Accreditation Body requirements
• Application to Accreditation Body
• Based on the scope of your business & Accreditation Body you choose
Week 1
Developing Documents
• Management System Manual, Management System Procedures, Policy, Objectives, Forms etc.
• Review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
Week 4
Implementing Management System
• Awareness training for the top management and staff
• Implementing a well-documented management system throughout the organization
Week 8
Internal Audit, MRM, CAPA
• Internal audits identifying nonconformities related to Accreditation Body requirements.
• Management Review Meetings.
• Corrective and Preventive Action plan for nonconformities
Week 10
Accreditation Body, Audit, N-C Closing
• Shamkris acts on your behalf and assists you in the third-party audit
• Closing of any nonconformities identified by the Accreditation Body
Week 12
Accreditation Body
• Accreditation certificate issued for 3 years
• Surveillance Audits yearly
Year on Year
Yearly Compliance
• Support of Yearly documentation for audit
FAQ
National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) is a constituent board of Quality Council of India (QCI), set up to establish and operate accreditation programme for healthcare organizations. The board while being supported by all stakeholders including industry, consumers, government, have full functional autonomy in its operation.
A public recognition of the achievement of accreditation standards by a healthcare organization, demonstrated through an independent external peer assessment of that organization's level of performance in relation to the standards.
• Commitment to create a culture of quality, patient safety, efficiency and accountability towards patient care.
• Establishment of protocols and policies as per National/International Standards for patient care, medication management, consent process, patient safety, clinical outcomes, medical records, infection control and staffing.
• Patients are treated with respect, dignity and courtesy at all times.
• Patients are involved in care planning and decision making.
• Patients are treated by qualified and trained staff.
• Feedback from patients is sought and complaints (if any) are addressed.
• Transparency in billing and availability of tariff list.
• Continuous monitoring of its services for improvement.
• Commitment to prevent adverse events that may occur.
Accreditation benefits all Stake Holders. Patients are the biggest beneficiaries. Accreditation results in high quality of care and patient safety. The patients get services by credential medical staff. Rights of patients are respected and protected. Patient satisfaction is regularly evaluated.
• Accreditation to a Hospital stimulates continuous improvement. It enables hospital in demonstrating commitment to quality care. It raises community confidence in the services provided by the hospital. It also provides opportunity to healthcare unit to benchmark with the best.
• The Staff in an accredited hospital are satisfied lot as it provides for continuous learning, good working environment, leadership and above all ownership of clinical processes. It improves overall professional development of Clinicians and Paramedical staff and provides leadership for quality improvement within medicine and nursing.
• Accreditation provides an objective system of empanelment by insurance and other Third Parties. Accreditation provides access to reliable and certified information on facilities, infrastructure and level of care.
Currently, NABH is offering accreditation programs for Hospitals, Small Health Care Organizations/Nursing Homes, Blood Banks and Transfusion Services, Oral Substitution Therapy (OST) Centres and Primary and Secondary Health Centres. A couple of more programs such as Medical Imaging services, Dental Hospitals/Centres, AYUSH Hospitals are being developed.