AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL RETAINS PREMIER GLOBAL ACCREDITATION STATUS

AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL RETAINS PREMIER GLOBAL ACCREDITATION STATUS

By Vera Shawiza

Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi

(AKUH,N) has been accredited for the

fourth time by the Joint Commission

International (JCI), the recognized

global leader in health quality

standards.

The US-based JCI is an independent not-

for-profit organisation that accredits

and certifies health care organisations

globally. On its website JCI notes:

“Successful completion of a rigorous

accreditation process is a signal to

patients that a health care organization

has undergone an exacting (rigorous)

performance assessment and met a robust

series of qualifications in patient

safety and quality of care.”

AKUH,N was first accredited by the JCI

in July 2013, becoming the first

hospital in East Africa to receive the

coveted accreditation. The Hospital was

re-accredited in 2016 and 2019.

“This re-accreditation is an external

validation that we are providing the

highest quality of patient care and

safety as measured by international

standards and benchmarked against the

best hospitals globally,” said Rashid

Khalani, the CEO of the hospital.

The re-accreditation was a culmination

of a rigorous audit process based on a

review of the hospital’s compliance with

291 standards and 1,199 measurable

elements. It involves the analysis of

healthcare delivery processes and

documentation including infection

control, standards of physician

practice, patient experience, medication

management, the safety of care and the

qualifications and competencies of staff

and physicians.

The audit also analyzes the level of

safety and maintenance of the facilities

and equipment, disaster preparedness,

patient education and the

multidisciplinary care of patients. The

audit is done every three years.

“We do not do this just for the audit,

but as a lifestyle. Delivering quality

care with good clinical outcomes is part

of our DNA and is what differentiates

us from other healthcare institutions.

This independent and rigorous audit also

ensures transparency and openness and

that nothing is hidden or thrown under

the carpet,” noted Mr Khalani.

In addition to the institutional

accreditation, AKUH,N has had two of its

clinical programs accredited by the

JCI. In August 2020, the hospital was

accredited as a Centre of Excellence for

the management of heart attacks making

it the first hospital in sub-Saharan

Africa, and second in Africa, to achieve

this certification.

Again, in June 2021, the hospital was

accredited as a Centre of Excellence for

the management of acute stoke making it

the first hospital in Africa to receive

the accreditation.

As part of its quality journey, the

hospital’s laboratory was in 2018

accredited by the College of American

Pathologists. AKUHN is the only hospital

laboratory in Eastern and Central

Africa with this accreditation. In 2011,

the laboratory was awarded the coveted

South African National Accreditation

System (SANAS) accreditation becoming

the first hospital laboratory in East

and Central Africa to attain this

qualification. It has been re-

accredited annually since then.

For 64 years, Aga Khan University

Hospital, Nairobi has set the standard

for comprehensive healthcare and modern

medical education in East Africa. Our

dedicated staff, advanced facilities and

state-of-the-art technologies have

earned the hospital great reputation as

a leading medical institution and

teaching hospital in the region, and

beyond.