Dr David Saxton, who has lived in the UAE and Oman for seven years, will be chief of staff when Al Zahra Private Hospital opens its doors to families in the first quarter of next year. Here, he talks about what it takes to gain accreditation for a medium-sized hospital such as Al Zahra, on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai.
Why do hospitals need to get accreditation?
In this day and age, consumers are informed and want to make sure the care they are getting is of an appropriate standard. Most government and public-sector hospitals have to have a set of certain standards such as on patient safety. It has also extended to the private sector, which has become highly competitive. If you want to compete with the big boys, it nees accreditation.
Is this trend more extensive in the UAE than in Oman?
In 2005 when I first came to the UAE in Abu Dhabi this trend was in its infancy. It was first required by the government hospitals and then it spread to the private sector. In Oman, it has not quite hit yet. Muscat Private Hospital where I worked before coming here got accreditation in January.
When will Al Zahra get accreditation?
We have to be functioning to get one. It usually takes two years to get the survey done. We hope to get it done in a year. And then it takes about a month to get the certificate officially.
How much does it cost?
For a medium-sized hospital with 200 beds like ours, it will take US$50,000 (Dh183,660) for the survey itself. And then you have to pay for the flight and accommodation of a team of two to five people for a few days from the accrediting body. In total, it would come to about $100,000 to $150,000.
How do you choose from the number of accrediting bodies?
Just as you would look for quality products when buying, the same applies to accrediting bodies. We will get ours from Joint Commission International (JCI), which is under the International Society for Quality in Health Care. Within the UAE there are currently 28 private-sector hospitals and 10 public-sector hospitals with JCI accreditation. Only one hospital has a Canadian certification. We have chosen JCI since it is the better-known organisation in the UAE and most of our staff have had experience with them in the past.
What are the challenges of getting accreditation?
Cost is a part of it. And it is a very involved, complex, time-consuming process. A hospital our size typically has 2,000 policies that governs how it functions. You have to look at all that you already have, and evaluate them. Also, it requires absolute commitment [to maintain the standards] from the board to the porter.