MakatiMed earns highly-coveted JCI accreditation anew
Top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) has once again secured another accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), a demonstration of the hospital’s world-class services and processes and its unwavering commitment to patient safety and premium medical care.
MakatiMed was re-accredited after it concluded the JCI 7th Edition Accreditation survey from November 8 to 12, 2021. Within this period, the hospital was still facing a pandemic and fought through three COVID-19 surges. Despite this fact, it obtained a higher score than the previous one and received perfect scores of 10 in four areas: Assessment of Patients, Staff Qualification and Education, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, and Patient-Centered Care.
“Seeking an accreditation under normal circumstances is a challenge. Seeking the same amidst an unprecedented and challenging pandemic scenario is ambitiously aspirational,” said Saturnino P. Javier MD, MakatiMed’s Medical Director. “The unanimous sentiment of the MakatiMed leadership team was to remain committed to pursue the highest standards of quality and safety—with or without a pandemic.”
For the first time, the triennial survey was conducted virtually, as past surveys were conducted face-to-face. In addition to the usual preparation of checking compliance to standards, readying documents and records, and conducting environmental rounds, the hospital needed to evaluate its internet connectivity, both Wi-Fi and data connections. Equipment for the virtual survey was also evaluated and purchased based on the requirements identified by JCI, and staff had to simulate the virtual survey several weeks prior to the survey week to familiarize themselves with the virtual nature of the process.
The surveyors evaluated every nook and cranny of the hospital operation including vital facilities, storage areas, laboratories, operating theaters, neuropsychiatric unit, pharmacy areas, medication preparation facilities, patient rooms, stockrooms, and nursing stations.
MakatiMed was also able to provide improvements to new standards including suicide and self-harm in the patient assessment risk, particularly for special cases like psychiatric and post-partum patients. Aside from this, the hospital developed a program that would ensure an integrated approach to reducing the risk of harm associated with clinical alarms and preventing staff from having alarm fatigue. Moreover, MakatiMed created a comprehensive program that ensures safe use of all equipment and devices containing laser and optical radiation to protect staff and patients.
Both Dr. Javier and Atty. Pilar Nenuca P. Almira, MakatiMed’s President and CEO, expressed their gratitude to the MakatiMed community for working hard to achieve this new milestone and for their dedication to giving their patients the highest quality of services they deserve.
“We sincerely thank our Makati Medical Center community—both in the medical and corporate circles—for its steadfast commitment to ensure we meet the highest standards of safety and quality for all patients we serve and be eventually recognized for it—with excellent passing to wit,” Atty. Almira shared.
“This would not have been possible without the support, encouragement, and contribution of everyone – from the President down to the newest member of the rank-and-file,” Dr. Javier stated. “We thus rejoice with everyone as we celebrate this milestone for Makati Medical Center and its entire community of healthcare workers.”
The JCI is the international arm of The Joint Commission, and has been working with health organizations, ministries of health, and global organizations in over 80 countries since 1994. The recognized global leader in healthcare accreditation, JCI’s focus is on providing objective assessment of quality achievement and patient care and safety and equipping organizations with knowledge to implement proven practices and practical and sustainable solutions.
Organizations applying for the highly-coveted accreditation undergo a meticulous screening process that evaluates their performance in areas that most directly impact patient care, including both clinical care and organizational management, such as access to care, assessment of patients, infection control, patient and family rights, and education.
Standards also address facility management and safety, staff qualifications, quality improvement and patient safety, organizational governance and leadership, and management of information and communications. JCI’s uniform, high standards for patient care and safety are designed to be adaptable to local needs, thus accommodating legal, religious and cultural factors within a country.
For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email [email protected], or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
