Role of A Consultancy in Getting NABH Accreditation
National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) is a constituent board of Quality Council of India. It is aptly structured to meet the much-desired needs of consumers for setting up benchmarks for healthcare quality management. It establishes and operates NABH Accreditation Standards and Programmes for healthcare organisations though it is a fully autonomous body. It is supported by all stakeholders in the chain including consumers, government and healthcare industry.
NABH Standards for Hospitals
NABH comprehensively reviews the hospital for compliance of standards it defines for assessing whether-
- The functioning of the hospital is based on sound principles of a system-based organization.
- There are implementation and institutionalization of the NABH standards in the healthcare unit’s operations.
- Integral core values of patient safety and care quality are completely established and owned by staff and management at all levels.
- Structured quality improvement programme is present based on a process of continuous monitoring of patient-care services.
The implementation of standards can be applicable to the following medical facilities and is assessed by NABH Accreditation Consultants -
- Hospitals
- Blood Banks
- Dental Facilities
- Wellness Centres
- Small Healthcare Organisations
- Diagnostic Centres
- Medical Imaging Services
- Oral Substitution Therapy Centres
- Ayush Hospitals
Benefits of NABH Accreditation
- Gauges the healthcare organization’s level of performance with NABH standards by accurate external peer assessment.
- Bestows a public recognition to the organization that gets accredited thereby promoting its image in society.
- Significantly benefits patients by ensuring
- High-quality of care and safety.
- Services are rendered by licensed and qualified medical staff.
- Regular evaluation of Patient Satisfaction.
- Their rights are thoroughly respected and protected.
- Services are rendered by licensed and qualified medical staff.
- Regular evaluation of Patient Satisfaction.
- Their rights are thoroughly respected and protected.
- Motivates staff by employee satisfaction and encouraging continuous learning, positive working environment, leadership capabilities and ownership of clinical processes.
- Stimulates continuous improvement in the organization and aids in a demonstration of commitment to quality of patient care.
- Enhances the level of community confidence in services offered by the healthcare organisation.
- Paves opportunity for healthcare units to benchmark themselves against the best in that segment.
- Enables an objective system of empanelment by insurance companies and other third party agents.
- Offers access to reliable and certified information on healthcare facilities, infrastructure and care levels.
How Can a Healthcare Consultancy assist in NABH Accreditation?
Organisations which intend to obtain NABH Accreditation can avail the professional services of Healthcare Consulting Firms (HCF) for implementing it. HCFs provide end-to-end consultancy including training, implementation and support for NABH Accreditation by:
- Getting a copy of the NABH standards and helping the organization to do a self-assessment on the compliance status with respect to specified standards.
- Identifying the gap areas that need attention and devising a robust action plan to overcome them.
- Implementing the plan successfully to ensure that the NABH standards are seamlessly integrated into the organisation’s functional aspects.
- Assisting in the submission of the NABH assessment application form after obtaining a copy and subsequently paying the requisite fees.
- Co-ordinating with the NABH team for getting the assessment programme dates and names of assessors.
- Facilitating the NABH assessment which includes an onsite visit to patient rooms and selective departments. The assessment also involves interviews with patients, residents and staff. Additionally, HCF aids the assessment team in conducting facility tours for addressing problems related to medical devices, infrastructure, infection control mechanisms and security measures. All these steps are an integral part of the process.
- Receiving recommendations and getting the targeted NABH certification.
- Helping the organisation to maintain quality based continuous improvement programme for patient care services.
Thus NABH Accreditation takes patient satisfaction to enriched levels with better facilities, calculated risk management, easier insurance reimbursements and reduced cost of care.