Hong Kong Adventist Hospital

Hong Kong Adventist Hospital has become the first hospital in Hong Kong to under go the rigorous JCI Accreditation. As of May 2006 it has received full Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation.

JCI evaluation was carried out at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital between 21st- 24th February 2006, and at Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital the following week.

JCI has accredited over 1500 health care organizations in the USA, and approximately 81 health care facilities outside the United States. It is an independent not-for-profit organization.

Since 1951, the Joint Commission has established standards that focus on improving the quality and safety of care provided by health care organizations. To ensure their international applicability, Joint Commission International standards were developed by a 16-member international task force, representing seven major world regions: Western Europe; the Middle East; Latin and Central America; Asia and the Pacific Rim; North America; Central and Eastern Europe; and Africa.

JCI standards make sure the ‘right person’ is in the ‘right place’ at the ‘right time’ doing the ‘right thing’. In short, it means that we are giving our patients the best and safest care possible.

The surveyors spent four days interviewing administrators and front line staff on policies and procedures. They studied the written policies and documentation of the hospital to evaluate whether the hospital was up to the very stringent JCI international standards.

The surveyors also looked in detail at the basics of hospital care for individual patients. They surveyed each department individually to assess whether they were practicing Quality Assurance, and a policy of continuous improvement. The physical plant of the hospital, including facilities, equipment, fire exits etc., was also subjected to evaluation.
Additionally, the ‘Patient Tracer System’ was followed. This involved following the patient’s journey from admission to discharge, and included examination of patient records and interviewing care givers.

By these methods, the surveyors were able to better evaluate the overall standard of patient care.

Access to and continuity of care
Assessment and care processes
Education and rights of individuals
Management of information and human resources
Quality leadership
Infection control
Collaborative integrated management
Facility Management

Hong Kong Adventist Hospital together along with the other 12 Hong Kong private hospitals were first awarded the Trent accreditation in 2000/2001 as a way to continuously improve the standards and best practices of hospital services. Following the third round of surveys Hong Kong private hospitals have received a further accreditation having reached a quality service standard laid down by the Trent Scheme.

The Trent Accreditation Scheme was first established in the United Kingdom in the Trent region 14 years ago and is responsible for granting accreditation to community hospitals and elderly homes.

Criteria for the Trent standards range from general management arrangements, professional clinical services, clinical specialties, clinical support to information system and accommodation / catering services.

These key areas of hospital services are inspected every two years by a panel of independent surveyors and reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Trent Accreditation Scheme in the UK. Accreditation is awarded to hospitals, which meet or exceed the standards.

The scheme not only provides a dynamic process allowing continual improvement and upgrading of standards assuring quality of service to patients and staff, but also

promotes a benchmark of standards
provides quality monitoring information
facilitates the development of people and organisations
creates a dynamic environment for change