Ethiopian delegation visit to Mediclinic Paarl
Pictured from the left: Dr Zewdie Mulisa Deksissa (High-Quality Health Systems Team Lead – QHA), Aden Adams (Technical manager), Helét Mostert (Pharmacy manager), Dr Mohammed Shikur Mussa (Vice President of the Ethiopian Healthcare Federation), Petra Sewing (COHSASA Quality Advisor/Surveyor), Dr Yeneneh Getachew (Senior Quality Management Advisor – IHI/QHA), Dr Ayele Teshome (State Minister, Ministry of Health), Henri van Waart (Hospital General Manager), Dr Meseret Bekele (Director General – Institute of Ethiopian Standards), Henok Hailu (Public Health Specialist, Ministry of Health), Marinda Peacock (Patient Administration Manager), Corné Bekker (Doctor Relationship Manager), Zewdu Ayele (Team Lead, Ethiopian Accreditation Service) and Jacorie Visagie (Patient Experience Manager).
The high-level Ethiopian delegation visited Mediclinic Paarl to learn more about the benefits and value of accreditation.
COHSASA’s Conference at Hospital Show a great success!
Deena Naidoo, Group Nursing Services Manager, Lenmed (standing) with from left: Jacqui Stewart, CEO of COHSASA; Dr Kim Faure Project Lead: SECURE Global Antibiotic R&D Partnership; Dr Ziyanda Mgugudo-Sello Head of Unit: Professional Services SA Medical Association and Professor Natalie Schellack, Head of the Department of Pharmacology, University of Pretoria, and Editor of the South Africa Pharmacy Journal.
One of these – the ABBY health station – can measure your blood pressure, BMI, heart age, body composition (water, muscles, fat), oxygen saturation and many other features. All you had to do was stand on a platform for 180 seconds!
COHSASA, as the knowledge partner, had the privilege of hosting the Hospital Show, which was lodged in one corner of the exhibition hall and attracted quite an audience, depending on the subject matter being discussed. The overall theme of the conference was “Ensuring Patient Safety in the drive for ESG, where ESG is an acronym for Environmental, Social, and Governance indicators.
Day Event
Exhibits
Delegates
It attracted 135 exhibits and over 3000 delegates and it is predicted that by 2025, these figures will increase. Healthcare professionals, hospital administrators and industry leaders mingled and swopped business cards as they explored the exhibits or listened to panel discussions featuring top speakers in their field.
Some of the facts emerging were alarming: Dr Natalie Schellack, for example, told the Hospital Show conference audience that Africa has the highest incidence and highest death rate of antimicrobial resistance in the world and that one in six medicines in Africa are substandard of falsified.
Speakers were drawn from both the public and private sector and from a local and international base. Of particular interest was keynote speaker Dr Joseph Williamson’s assertion that doctors are the most difficult to persuade about the benefits of quality improvement and accreditation, but he confessed that he is a most serious convert.
Equally fascinating was a talk by Carmen Menéndez Calzada from the Geneva Sustainability Centre on equipping leaders with skills, tools, and actionable knowledge to advance on their sustainability journey.
The event was carefully crafted to ensure that delegates had the chance to connect with the best suppliers and services providers serving the hospital sector in South Africa, SADC and Africa.
CEO of COHSASA, Jacqui Stewart, moderating a panel discussion on “What is being done to implement ESG strategies?” with (from left): independent improvement specialist Neo Masike; Gladys Bogoshi, CEO Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital and Francois Bester, Group Manager: Environmental Sustainability, Mediclinic Group.
CEO Jacqui Stewart catches up with emails at the COHSASA stand at the Hospital Show.
Former Chairperson of COHSASA, Dr Brad Beira, part of the panel that discussed the legal and regulatory perspective of patient safety in the drive for ESG.
COHSASA’s Vice Chairperson and Co-founder and Managing Director of Health IQ Consulting, Dr Brenda Kubheka (left) and Dr Nkuli Boikhutso, the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital on the panel discussing “Where is Patient Safety on the Governance Agenda”?
Dr Joseph Williamson, Healthcare Consultant, IFC who gave the keynote address with the CEO of COHSASA, Jacqui Stewart.
Jacqui Stewart and Dr Louis Alekwe, Executive Director of Lily Hospital in Lagos.
A section of the audience attending the Hospital Show’s conference hosted by COHSASA, “Ensuring Patient Safety in the Drive for ESG”.
Dr Karen Nel who spoke out strongly about the need to take care of health workers before they can take care of patients.
Drawing a picture of legal and regulatory perspectives with regards to ESG: (from left): Dr Siphiwe Mndaweni, CEO Office of Health Standards Compliance, Dr Brad Beira Director – Consulting & Risk Services: PWC and Dr Morgan Mkhatshwa, Head of Social Impact, Lenmed.
COHSASA accredits the Bank Hospital in Ghana
Moving an impressive 20 points from 69 at the baseline survey of the hospital to 89 at the external survey, the COHSASA team reported that excellent progress had been made at The Bank Hospital with the development of organisational documented processes across all departments. The surveyors congratulated the hospital and commended it for achieving substantial compliance with the accreditation standards over a relatively short preparation phase – just under a year. The hospital entered the accreditation programme in January 2023 and had a peer-reviewed external survey to measure compliance with standards in December of the same year.
Most of the service areas of the hospital scored well into the 90s. The hospital’s achievement is even more extraordinary given that after its completion in 2017, it stood empty for two years. It was eventually commissioned in 2021. It is owned by the Bank of Ghana and is operated by Lenmed Health.
The Bank Hospital offers a wide range of specialised services including a catheterisation laboratory, a dialysis unit, and MRI and CT scan units. The hospital has recently performed its first renal transplant, with plans to expand this service in future. Critical care facilities are also currently being expanded.
Mrs Jennifer Moodley, the Quality Manager of The Bank Hospital, who led the process and helped to achieve this success said, “It was a tough journey. As a team we kept positive, we collaborated, and we worked well towards a common goal. We set timelines and got buy-in from all staff in both clinical and non-clinical areas.
“Our target was to move from a position of non-compliance with the COHSASA standards, to partial compliance and then to full compliance. We used the COHSASA Quality Information System – CoQIS – to track our progress and monitor trends.
“The use of CoQIS created the consistency to drive quality processes and procedures and providing continuous feedback and engagement with heads of departments and unit managers helped us along the way.
“I think the key to our success was that the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Indren Poovan, the Medical Director, Dr Charlotte Osafo and the Chief Financial Officer, Ms Grace Awotwe were committed and supportive all the way through.
“Being accredited elevates The Bank Hospital’s platform to an international level,” says Mrs Moodley.
Mr Indren Poovan, manager of The Bank Hospital says, “I found this process of accreditation enlightening. I was not sure if my staff would embrace this new way of doing things as there are no other currently accredited healthcare facilities in Ghana. I was suitably impressed by the manner in which all categories of staff embraced the accreditation process and, more importantly, how all staff members took ownership of their responsibilities.
“Because the accreditation process cuts across the entire hospital, all staff members were involved and had to be aligned to achieve this common objective.”
Mr. Poovan praised the staff for embracing the accreditation process and taking ownership of their responsibilities. He highlighted the positive impact of accreditation on patient safety, quality of care, patient satisfaction, staff morale, and stakeholder confidence. Mr. Poovan believes that accreditation will lead to improved outcomes, reduced errors, streamlined processes, and an overall more efficient healthcare environment at The Bank Hospital.
The team at The Bank Hospital in Accra, Ghana that drove the accreditation process pictured with the COHSASA surveyors who conducted the external evaluation. Front row (from left): Ernest Mireku, Louisa Asamoah, Sonia Amponsah, Dr Gloria Ansa – Deputy Medical Director, Dr Charlotte Osafo – Medical Director, Indren Poovan – Chief Executive Officer, Dr Giel van Schalkwyk, Chief Surveyor of COHSASA, Ms Firdousa Hassan, COHSASA surveyor, Jennifer Moodley, Quality Manager at the hospital and Chief Financial Officer, Grace Awotwe. Back row (from left): Kuda Chihoto, Michael Botchway, Prince Rockson, Vivian Tetteh, Samuel Gyampoh, Stella Govender, Dr Lydia Opoku-Ahene and COHSASA Surveyor, Mr. Riel Le Roux.
The finance team.
CEO Indren Poovan (on the right) congratulates Prince Rockson, head of the Radiology Unit and his team on reaching compliance with COHSASA standards.
South African Health Accrediting Body Is Internationally Accredited
This marks the sixth consecutive accreditation bestowed upon COHSASA by the ISQua EEA, globally recognised as the foremost authority in matters concerning health facility quality and safety. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and specialises in providing third-party external evaluation services to health and social care organisations worldwide, as well as standards developing bodies.
Says CEO of COHSASA, Jacqui Stewart, “These accolades stand as a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence. They reassure our clients that our services and products adhere to the highest international standards, aligning with the robust principles meticulously developed by the ISQua EEA”.
The hospital show
Designed to facilitate connections with leading suppliers and service providers in the hospital sector across South Africa, SADC, and Africa, the Hospital Show is complemented by a two-day conference themed ‘Ensuring Patient Safety in the ESG Drive’. Hosted by Cohsasa and chaired by CEO Jacqui Stewart, the conference will feature experts and speakers who will share insights and expertise during this engaging event.
The backdrop for this conference is the alarming reality that medical errors rank as the third leading cause of death in the US, while antimicrobial resistance (AMR) contributes to nearly five million deaths annually from bacterial infections globally, according to the WHO. Recognising patient safety as a crucial indicator of a quality healthcare system, the conference will explore whether the healthcare sector can enhance safety for both patients and staff by integrating a broader sustainability framework through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies.
For further information: https://hospitalshow.co.za/ | marilyn@cohsasa.co.za
Mediclinic Cape Gate notches up another quality award
Jacqui Stewart, CEO of COHSASA, presents Mediclinic Cape Gate’s four-year accreditation certificate to Hospital General Manager, Carol Defty, and heads of department.
Recently a standalone day clinic was added to the complex, which operates as a sub-unit of the hospital with the sharing of managerial, administrative, and support functions. This hospital was also accredited at the August COHSASA Board Meeting, achieving a three-year accreditation award.
Jacqui Stewart with the Unit Heads of Mediclinic Cape Gate.
Says Chief Operating Officer of Mediclinic, Dr Gerrit de Villiers, “The relationship between COHSASA and Mediclinic over the years has led to us implementing systems to ensure quality of care is delivered. This repeat accreditation supports the embedment of this in Mediclinic Cape Gate and across our Group. We value any contribution to ensuring the best clinical outcomes for our patients as part of a constant learning and improvement focus.”
Jacqui Stewart hands the accreditation certificate to (left) Carol Defty, General Hospital Manager of Mediclinic Cape Gate and (right) to Mari Esterhuizen, General Manager of the Mediclinic Cape Gate Day Clinic.
Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt receives a seventh COHSASA accreditation
CEO of COHSASA, Jacqui Stewart, hands over the four-year accreditation certificate to Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt General Manager, Theresa Wilson (right), as senior staff of the hospital look on.
Unit heads of Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt in Bellville gathered this week to receive a seventh accreditation certificate from COHSASA. This 189-bed acute hospital in the northern suburbs of Cape Town has now received its third four-year accreditation award. This signals that the facility has quality improvement principles deeply embedded in the DNA of daily hospital operations.
Receiving the Certificate, Hospital General Manager, Theresa Wilson (who has been at the helm for the past 11 years) said that the hospital benefitted from an external audit by COHSASA because it kept systems robust. It also provided an objective alert to issues that needed to be improved.
COVID-19 tested everyone to the limit
CEO of COHSASA, Jacqui Stewart, said that she had requested to present the certificate in person to acknowledge the hard work of frontline staff at Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had tested everyone to the limit.
“It was such a difficult time for everybody. This accreditation certificate acknowledges everything you did during the Pandemic. It also recognises everything you continue to do for every patient that attends the hospital. I think many people do not appreciate what the healthcare workforce went through – the nursing staff, the administration team, the cleaners – everybody. Your perseverance under great stress is a great tribute to you all. COHSASA wants to acknowledge your commitment to quality. The fact that this is your seventh accreditation tells me that quality improvement is deeply embedded in your daily activities. It’s not just a tick box exercise for COHSASA surveyors but your operational habit. Well done to your whole team!” she said.
Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt will be a candidate for the proposed new Platinum Award from COHSASA. This will be for facilities that have received at least two four-year accreditation awards. Platinum hospitals will be further challenged to demonstrate that they have an environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework to assess business practices and performance on various sustainability and ethical issues and which focus on the patient journey.
Congratulations to all at Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt!
SAVE THE DATE…
A Forum for Excellence: The 11th Quality Management & Patient Safety Conference
The forthcoming 11th Quality Management & Patient Safety Conference, scheduled for Thursday, 19 October at the Gallagher Convention Centre, serves as a forum where healthcare industry pioneers and leading experts will convene to present transformative ideas focused on strengthening healthcare resilience and sustainability in Africa.
With a theme that provocatively asks, ‘Where to from here? How to make resilience and sustainability our reality,’ the conference will delve into key topics such as the design and implementation of patient safety systems in teaching hospitals, the role of accreditation in driving sustainable improvement, as well as strategies to mitigate malpractice litigation and clinical negligence.
The event presents a holistic platform for healthcare professionals to navigate the future of healthcare resilience and sustainability in Africa. Under the insightful guidance of conference chair Jacqui Stewart, the agenda boasts a roster of eminent speakers including Prof. Ethelwynn Stellenberg, Dr. Lydia Okutoyi, and Lauren De Kock, among others.
Sessions will grapple with key topics such as implementing patient safety systems in teaching hospitals, the role of accreditation in driving sustainable improvement, and strategies to address malpractice litigation and clinical negligence. The day is structured to balance high-level presentations and dynamic panel discussions.
Delegates—ranging from hospital managers to quality coordinators—can anticipate actionable insights on achieving healthcare resilience, translating knowledge into on-the-ground strategies, and fostering meaningful change in quality management and patient safety. Beyond this, the event offers CPD awards, further elevating its value for healthcare professionals committed to lifelong learning and excellence.
“The Quality Management & Patient Safety Conference is a crucial event that will speak to the core issues around improving healthcare outcomes across Africa,” says conference chair Jacqui Stewart, who serves as CEO at The Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA).
Stewart’s experience in leading COHSASA to guide various hospitals in the region toward accreditation attests to her expertise in instituting strict quality and safety standards. Her insights will undoubtedly enrich the conference, offering attendees actionable strategies for achieving similar milestones in their own institutions.
Among the esteemed participants at the conference is Professor Ethelwynn Stellenberg, an Emeritus Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at Stellenbosch University, and the National Chairperson of the South African Medico-Legal Association and a COHSASA board member.
Recently inducted into the prestigious ISQua Academy of Quality and Safety in Health Care, Stellenberg is renowned for her rigorous research into malpractice litigation in South Africa’s healthcare sector. Throughout a long and illustrious career, she has spearheaded initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare quality, from elevating clinical standards to devising educational programmes for healthcare professionals. Her leadership and work have earned her global recognition for making tangible impacts, particularly in improving patient safety.
The keynote address will be given by Dr Sodzi-Sodzi Tettey from Ghana, Vice President, Global Delivery – Africa & Middle East at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. He is a board member of the International Society of Quality in Healthcare (ISQua), the global body that accredits external evaluation organisations., and a member of their Academy of Quality and Safety in Health Care.
Also presenting is Dr Lydia Okutoyi who is the Director of Healthcare Quality at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. She is the Founding President of the Society for Quality Healthcare Kenya and was recently inducted into the ISQua Academy of Quality and Safety in Health Care. Dr Okutoyi will delve into the intricacies of designing and implementing a patient safety system and culture in teaching hospitals.
Her talk will form part of the second of the day’s three sessions, themed around staff and patient safety. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A panel and promises to elucidate the complexities and opportunities inherent in cultivating a safety-centric environment within healthcare settings.
Medical professionals in pursuit of a comprehensive learning experience, are invited to peruse the Medlab Laboratory Management Conference, which is collocated at Africa Health 2023.
With the clinical laboratory industry estimated as the fastest-growing sector in the SADC region and a diverse attendance from over 50 international countries, Medlab Africa 2023 is a nexus for business development, network expansion, and industry acumen and will be of immense value to medical professionals across a spectrum of roles, from clinicians to procurement managers.
The Medlab conference delineates a robust agenda in Laboratory Management, Clinical Pathology, and Anatomical Pathology – areas that could hold value for attendees of the 11th Quality Management & Patient Safety discussions. Both events will unfold at the Gallagher Convention Centre, combining to form more than the sum of their parts, and amplifying the depth and breadth of educational opportunities that Africa Health Conference Events offer.
Together the 11th Quality Management and Patient Safety event and the MedLab 2023 discussion trajectories constitute a profound and actionable landscape for knowledge sharing and professional advancement. Mark the date and seize this unparalleled opportunity to be part of shaping resilient and sustainable healthcare futures across Africa. With limited slots available, those interested in these symposia are encouraged to register promptly.
ABOUT AFRICA HEALTH
- Africa Health is organised by the Informa Markets’ Global Healthcare Group. It takes place at Gallagher Estate in Gauteng (South Africa) between 17 and 19 October 2023.
- A summary report from the Africa Health Congress in 2022 can be downloaded from https://www.africahealthexhibition.com/en/forms/exb/download-post-show-report.html
- The Exhibition will host 15 CPD-accredited conferences that are aimed at bridging the gap in medical knowledge by providing the very latest insights into cutting-edge procedures, techniques, and skills.
- For more information, visit https://www.africahealthexhibition.com/en/home.html
- Media queries and requests for attendance accreditation can be addressed to Martin Slabbert at martin@alkemi.global
A taste of its own medicine…
Every four years COHSASA – like all its clients undergoing the quality improvement and accreditation process – submits to being evaluated itself. This is conducted by the global authority – the International Society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (ISQuaEEA) – that monitors healthcare evaluators. ISQuaEEA confers on healthcare accreditors the standing and authority that they have the resources, means and capacity to credibly and reliably audit others.
It is a comprehensive, thorough and exhaustive process (so we know how our hospitals feel when we come along!) COHSASA has been consistently accredited (both as an organisation and its standards) without interruption since 2002.
Arriving in Cape Town this week to conduct the survey (in bitterly cold weather) were ISQua surveyors, Dr Hein Muller of the Netherlands and Jan Mackereth-Hill of the UK. Both are highly-trained and have conducted surveys around the world. The evaluation will wrap up on Friday when COHSASA will be notified whether it is to be accredited for the next four years and with suggestions on opportunities for improvement.
The survey is taking place at COHSASA’s Claremont office in Cape Town.
COHSASA Staff members (clockwise starting at the centre back): Cheryl Adams (Knowledge Management), Dr Hein Muller (ISQuaEEA surveyor), Jan Mackereth-Hill (ISQuaEEA Surveyor), Nadine Joubert (Databank Supervisor), Mtisunge Chiotha (Unit Head: ICT) and Noleen Davids and Kefuoe Qwela: Databank Helpdesk.
COHSASA appoints new board members
The Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) has appointed two new members to its Board. They are Dr Brenda Kubheka and Dr Victor Litlhakanyane.
Welcoming the new Board appointments, Jacqui Stewart, CEO of COHSASA said: “I am absolutely delighted to have two such consummate professionals join the COHSASA Board. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise to complement the other directors.”
Newly appointed Chairperson of COHSASA, Mr. Nhlanhla Nene, also welcomed the new appointments. “On behalf of the Board of COHSASA, I am pleased to welcome Dr Kubheka and Dr Litlhakanyane as new directors and thank them for being available to serve the organisation in its mission to support and promote quality health services. Their experience and passion in the sector will add tremendous value to COHSASA’s strategic objective into the future.”
Newly appointed member of the COHSASA Board Dr Kubheka, founder and Managing Director of Health IQ Consulting and a founder of Matched Media is a well-rounded healthcare, ethics and health services strengthening professional. She has worked in both the private and public sectors in South Africa and has a wealth of experience and knowledge in health service management, managed healthcare, public health, and healthcare ethics.
She began her career as an intern at Madadeni Provincial Hospital in Kwa-Zulu Natal and worked her way up the public sector healthcare ladder to be appointed as Chief Director of the Mpumalanga Department of Health.
However, interspersed with her work in the public sector, she was a Medical Advisor and Senior Operations Manager for hospital and pathology benefit management for Medscheme Holdings. She also trained as a surveyor for COHSASA and lectured at Monash University (SA), University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand in health topics.
Her work experience includes occupying roles of a clinician, health services standards assessor, advisor consultant, mentor, and entrepreneur, and working as a senior manager in managed healthcare, and an executive leader in provincial health services. She also serves in the HPCSA’s professional conduct committee.
Dr Kubheka’s diverse experiences and qualifications in medicine, business, media and policy have enabled her to engage locally and globally on these issues.
She is also a researcher with a special interest in patient safety, digital medicine, social justice, and bioethics. She has published opinion pieces and academic papers internationally and is considered a thought leader in issues relevant to the health profession, national agenda and global health issues.
Says Dr Kubheka, “As a health professional who has experienced healthcare as a patient, leader and an entrepreneur, and a health justice advocate, I bring a unique blend of experience and perspectives to my role as a Board Member of COHSASA in the context of African healthcare. I will play a pivotal role in repositioning and fostering the growth of the organisation by providing strategic direction, mobilising partnerships and promoting innovation while ensuring accountability to support a sustainable trajectory towards success. “I seek to forge collaborations that not only reposition the organisation but also create a lasting impact on the landscape of healthcare quality improvement in Southern Africa.”
Dr Victor Litlhakanyane
Dr Victor Letsoejane Litlhakanyane is a Radiation Oncologist and has been a leader, in both public and private sectors, in health care on the African continent for more than 26 years. Starting out as an intern at the Pelonomi Academic Hospital in the Free State Province of South Africa, he was appointed as a Registrar in the Department of Radiation Oncology where he was involved in teaching and research functions.
Dr Litlhakanyane was appointed Chief Director for the health service in the Free State Province in 1995 where he was responsible for the deracialisation and transformation of the health services.
In 2001, he was appointed as Superintendent General and Head of the Department of Health in the Free State province, managing 30 hospitals and more than 100 primary health clinics.
He has extensive experience in the private sector, being appointed as an Executive Director at Netcare, one of the largest private Health groups in South Africa in 2004. After leaving Netcare, he was managing director of several private companies and non-executive director and consultant at several private hospital groups. He is currently an Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Life Healthcare Group.
He started his academic journey with a MBChB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Masters in Medicine (Clinical Oncology) from the University of the Free State in 1995. Soon after this he received the Oliver Tambo Fellowship in Health Leadership.
He has a Master’s in Business Administration in Health Care from the University of Free State, a Certificate in Health Services Management from Clark Atlanta University in the USA and a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Management from the University of Cape Town. He has presented a number of papers at national and international conferences.
He was a Visiting Professor in the Faculties of Health Sciences and Economic Management Sciences at the University of the Free State and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Walter Sisulu University.
Dr Litlhakanyane is registered with the HPCSA as a medical practitioner and Radiation Oncologist. He was a Board Member of the Hospital Association of South Africa until 2011.
He is an Associate of The College of Radiation Oncologists of South Africa and served on the College Council for a number of years. He is a Trustee of the Colleges of Medicines of South Africa, a member of the Free State University Council until 2004 and served on the WHO Patient safety panel for a number of years. He was a Trustee of the Health Systems Trust till October 2016.
Says Dr Litlhakanyane of his appointment,” I hope to contribute towards improved access to quality public and private health services, accredited in terms of evidence based international health quality standards, throughout the African continent.”