ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER ACHIEVES ACCREDITATION FROM JOINT COMMISSION INTERNATIONAL

In 2003, the Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited St. Luke’s Medical Center, affirming that the hospital meets the highest standards for patient care and organizational management. St. Luke’s is the first healthcare facility in the Philippines and the second of several in Asia to be accredited by JCI.

JCI accreditation means St. Luke’s patients are assured of receiving care that is at par with that of the best hospitals in the world. JCI is the international arm of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the oldest and most prestigious healthcare accreditation organization in the world. It is respected by US hospitals for its reputation, experience and credibility.

The accreditation process involves a thorough evaluation of a healthcare organization’s performance in areas that most affect patient health and safety. In getting accreditation, an organization makes a commitment to adhere to and maintain JCI standards, which provide the framework for safe and quality care.

St. Luke’s achieved the prestigious accreditation after two years of rigorous preparation and following a week-long on-site survey. With the JCI seal, St. Luke’s commits to keep striving for the highest level of performance possible, improve patient outcomes, and create an environment for continuous improvement.

“Health care organizations around the world want to create environments that focus on quality, safety and continuous improvement,” says Karen Timmons, chief executive officer, Joint Commission International. “Accreditation meets this demand by stimulating continuous, systematic improvements in a hospital’s performance and the outcomes of patient care. The Philippines should be proud that St. Luke’s has made a commitment to quality and safety.”

“We sought accreditation because we are committed to provide the best care possible for our patients,” says Jose F. G. Ledesma, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Luke’s. “While this accomplishment is a huge step towards our vision of being one of the Top 5 medical institutions in Asia by the year 2010, we face major challenges ahead of us. However, with an unwavering commitment to our Core Values, I am confident that we can achieve this goal. The best can always be made better.”

JCl’s uniform, high quality standards for patient care and safety are designed to be adaptable to local needs, thus accommodating legal, religious and cultural factors within a country.

Standards focus on the areas that most directly impact patient care. These include access to care and continuity of care; patient and family rights; assessment of patients; care of patients; patient and family education; quality management and improvement; prevention and control of infection; governance, leadership and direction; facility management and safety; staff qualifications and education; and management of information.