How to Check the Quality of Hospitals Abroad: Hospital Accreditation

When considering your options for medical tourism, we know that one of the most important questions in your mind is “Can I trust in the healthcare facility?”. In a survey conducted by the Medical Tourism Association, it was found that 97.2% of medical tourists say that 'trust' is a very important factor when they make their decisions. When you are thinking of going abroad for medical care, you want to make sure the hospital is high-quality and safe. Hospital accreditation is a good way of checking if the hospital in a medical tourism destination meets high rules & standards and can be trusted.

If a hospital has an accreditation, this means that an expert group has checked it and agreed that meets certain rules for good medical care and patient safety. This checking process helps build the trust that international patients need.

How Does Hospital Accreditation Work?

Accreditation is a seal of approval for a hospital. It means that an organization that sets standards for healthcare has looked closely at the hospital's services, how they care for patients, how they keep things clean and safe, the skills of their doctors and nurses, and many other important things.

If a hospital gets accreditation, it means they pass this careful check and follow a set of high rules for how they manage their operations. It shows they work hard to give good care and keep patients safe.

Accreditation could be given for a whole hospital or a certain type of medical care or a specific department. This is sometimes called a "Center of Excellence" for that kind of treatment, like bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery). This means that the hospital or that specific part of the hospital has met extra high standards and has a lot of experience in providing that particular kind of medical help.

Why is Accreditation Important for Medical Travelers?

When you travel abroad for medical treatment, you might not be familiar with the local healthcare system there. Accreditation helps you know that a hospital has been looked at by an independent group and meets known healthcare standards.

Accreditation is important because it can give you more trust. Accreditation shows that the hospital has good ways of doing things to:

• Keep patients safe

• Give good medical treatment

• Make sure their staff is well-trained

• Have clean and safe buildings

• Handle medical records properly

  
  

How to Check if a Hospital Has Accreditation

Here are some ways you can check if a hospital has accreditation:

• Look at the Hospital's Website: Hospitals that have accreditation usually show this information clearly on their website, with the logo of the accrediting organization.

• Check the Accrediting Organization's Website: Another way to check is to go directly to the website of the group that gives the accreditation. There are organizations such as Joint Commission International (JCI) and DNV. These have tools on their sites where you can search for hospitals they have approved. You can type in the hospital's name or location to see if it is on their official list of accredited places. This helps you see the most up-to-date information about their accreditation status.

• Ask the Hospital Directly: You can get in touch with the hospital you are looking at and ask them about their accreditations and which organizations have approved them.

  
  

Accreditations in Popular Medical Tourism Destinations

Many countries that are well-liked for medical travel have hospitals that have received accreditation, often from international groups. Here are some international examples:

• Joint Commission International (JCI): This is one of the most well-known international accrediting bodies. Many hospitals in medical tourism destinations like Turkey, South Korea, Singapore, India, Mexico, and Thailand have JCI accreditation. Finding a hospital with JCI means it aims to meet high international standards for safety and quality. You can search for JCI-approved hospitals on their website.

• DNV: This is a global organization that works with hospitals to help them meet standards and gives certification. They have a website where you can look for hospitals that have received their mark of quality.

• QHA Trent: This institution comes from the United Kingdom, also offers international healthcare accreditation services.

• Local Accreditation: Some countries also have their own national accreditation systems that work to make sure hospitals within their country meet good standards:

  • Malaysia has the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH).

  • India has the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH).

  • Mexico has the General Health Council (CSG) Certification.

  • Thailand has its own Hospital Accreditation (HA) system run by the Healthcare Accreditation Institute.

  • Hospitals in Hungary often follow European standards and some hospitals have accreditations like JCI or others that work within Europe.

Checking for accreditation is a key step when you are looking for medical treatment in another country. It helps you find hospitals that are serious about giving good care and keeping patients safe.

Key Takeaways

A hospital with an accreditation is a strong sign of quality and safety for your medical tourism choice. By checking for these marks of quality, you make a better choice for your international health journey.