10 Feb 2010 12:22

Shanghai's Huashan Hospital gets JCI accreditation

By Karl Zhong

Shanghai. February 10. INTERFAX-CHINA - Fudan University-affiliated Huashan Hospital has received Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, Shanghai Municipal Government announced on Feb. 10.

According to the announcement, Huashan Hospital is the first hospital under direct management of the Ministry of Health (MoH) to become JCI-accredited. The certification process had taken three years.

JCI is the global arm of the U.S.-based Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Since 1997, JCI has accredited hospitals in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America for medical tourism facilities. Currently, over 85 percent of the hospitals in the United States have obtained JCAHO certification.

The accreditation will allow Huashan Hospital, currently one of China's top hospitals, to meet the medical needs of overseas tourists attending the World Expo in Shanghai this year, the announcement said.

"JCI-accredited hospitals meet standards in hospital operations and medical treatments designed to improve quality of care. During the JCI accreditation process, factors such as patient feedback are also taken into consideration," a Huashan Hospital employee from the director's office, who declined to be named, told Interfax.

Huashan Hospital will likely see an increase in foreign patients since foreigners who seek medical treatment at JCI-accredited hospitals will find it easier to obtain medical expense reimbursement under their medical insurance plans in their home countries, he added.

"We will be able to maintain a high quality of medical services as JCI will conduct appraisals every three years to determine if hospitals can keep their accreditation," the employee said.

At present, over 200 hospitals in 38 countries have obtained JCI accreditation. In China, a total of five hospitals, including Huashan Hospital, have received JCI accreditation. The other four hospitals are Zhejiang University's School of Medicine-affiliated Shao Yifu Hospital in Hangzhou, Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics, Shanghai United Family Hospital and Clinics and Clifford Hospital in Guangzhou.