The first hospital to be accredited by COHSASA using a “hybrid” model (remote surveys included in the implementation of the programme) has received a three-year award. This is the Lady Pohamba Private Hospital in Windhoek, Namibia. The second hospital to achieve a three-year accreditation by this method is the Arwyp Medical Centre in Kempton Park, Gauteng. Both hospitals were delighted to receive news of their achievement this week.
A remote survey, increasingly being used by healthcare accrediting agencies in a COVID19 world, means that – where feasible and accurate – surveyors will review compliance issues in hospitals on Zoom (or other digital platform) with the assistance of at least one surveyor physically on site. The development has come about due to travel and social distancing restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
A COHSASA accreditation award means the healthcare organisations have entered a rigorous quality improvement programme and have been assessed against and comply with standards recognised by the International Society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (IEEA), the global body overseeing accreditation and quality improvement programmes in healthcare organisations in 70 countries around the world.
COHSASA itself is accredited by the IEEA as are its standards. COHSASA is the only accrediting body for healthcare facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa recognised by the IEEA.
Healthcare facilities that initially enter the programme and meet standards are awarded two-year accreditations and as the journey in improving quality continues, awards of longer duration are given. A four-year accreditation award from the Council should signal to patients that a facility has sustained an excellent level of standards over a commendable period. All facilities that receive an Accreditation Award must undergo an interim survey halfway through the period to ensure that standards are being maintained.
It is thus possible to safely assume that both the Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek, Namibia and the Arwyp Medical Centre in Kempton Park, Gauteng are well on their way to achieving consistent safe and high levels of care.
The Arwyp Medical Centre in Kempton Park, Gauteng.