Importance of Documentation

In healthcare accreditation documentation forms a framework and skeleton for the healthcare accreditation process. Once the documentation is done as per the specific requirements of the hospitals complying to the statutory and regulatory norms the hospital employees are made aware about the same. The processes are intertwined and correlated with each other.

Types of documentation needed for a hospital

- Permissions / licenses to be procured and listed

- Hospital organisation structure to be finalized

- Hospital mission and vision to be fixed

- Hospital departmental layouts and infrastructural requirements are met with

- Standard operating procedures - for each department as applicable

- Policies- for each department as applicable

- Manuals- for departments as applicable

- Signages and direction plan ( route maps )

- Evacuation plans and diagrams

- Forms and formats of the hospital

- Citizen's charter for responsibilities and rights

- Safety concerns and notifications

Benefits of Accreditation

The intention of introduction of accreditation process to healthcare system is to create a process of continuous improvement, a culture for assurance of safety and quality. By achieving the accreditation seal the healthcare organisation creates public trust in itself. This implies the organisation is concerned about patient's expectations safety and qualitative service provision.An accreditation provides a safe working atmosphere to employees and ensures employee satisfaction. By doing so the organisation creates an environment where proper documentation is maintained , accountability is there and planning for adverse situations is envisaged. This improves a collaboration from top to bottom of the hierarchy and ensures continuous inputs from all levels fostering leadership for achievement of the next level in quality provision.

The patients get the best benefit of accreditation. The patient rights are safe guarded . he organisation gains reputation and an indirect brand building. The employees get a professional atmosphere and scope for development.

Beneficiaies of Accreditation

1. Patients :

Patients are the biggest beneficiaries of accreditation. Patient safety and enhancement in quality of care provided are two major outcomes of healthcare accreditation .

NABH accreditation for Indian Hospitals.

NABH structure

National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) is a constituent board of Quality Council of India, set up to establish and operate accreditation program for healthcare organizations. the board is structured to cater to much desired needs of the consumers and to set benchmarks for progress of health industry. The board while being supported by all stakeholders including industry, consumers, government, have full functional autonomy in its operation.

NABH has accreditation program for Hospitals and nursing home and also for blood banks. In future it has plan to release accreditation program for

•	Diagnostic Centres (Imaging)
•	Dental Centres
•	Ayurvedic Hospitals/ Clinics

NABH is an institutional member of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQUA). ISQUA is an international body which grants approval to Accreditation Bodies in the area of healthcare as mark of equivalence of accreditation program of member countries.