JCI, Korean Hospital Association Establish Strategic Collaboration

The Joint Commission International and the Korean Hospital Association have announced a strategic collaboration designed to improve healthcare quality and safety in South Korea.

Karen H. Timmons, president and CEO of the Joint Commission International, said the collaboration made sense for both sides, as the JCI and KHA both seek to improve quality and safety at their respective member hospitals.

"Working in many different countries it's very useful and beneficial to have credible, reputable partners who can also be local 'feet on the ground' to understand the culture, the healthcare delivery system, etc.," Timmons said. "They are assisting and partnering with us since we have such collaborative goals.

Through the partnership, the KHA and JCI will establish programs that seek to further quality and safety in Korean hospitals. As part of this "Memorandum of Understanding," the JCI and the KHA will:

• Establish an ongoing series of educational programs for KHA member hospitals
• Translate and publish the Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, third edition, into Korean
• Establish a help desk for KHA members to answer their questions about JCI standards, accreditation, and services
• Distribute information on JCI standards for all accreditation programs via the KHA information network
• Develop and promote the use of patient safety solutions for the benefit of Korean patients and health professionals
• Promote KHA recommendations on healthcare quality and safety through the South Korea representative that is a member of JCI's Asia-Pacific Regional Advisory Council

One major goal of the collaboration is to help Korean hospitals achieve a level of quality that is recognized worldwide.

"Working with JCI will help the Korean Hospital Association raise the profile of health care in South Korea, and bring international recognition to the quality of care in Korean hospitals," said KHA President Hoon Sang Chi, MD, in a statement. "Improving the quality of healthcare and patient safety in South Korea is a strategic initiative of the KHA."

Currently, one hospital in South Korea has achieved JCI accreditation, but several other facilities have expressed interest in doing so, JCI says.

By working together, the two organizations should be able to exert some influence and leadership with respect to helping organizations meet their needs and goals regarding quality and safety, Timmons says.

"I would hope that the partnership would have an impact—a very positive impact—raising the awareness in respect to patient safety and providing concrete education on ways to enhance quality and safety," she says.

Timmons says that she hopes the work achieved through the collaboration with the KHA will ultimately benefit patients not only in Korea, but other areas of the world as well. If the partnership with Korea and other countries proves successful, the JCI could potentially reach out to other nations seeking to improve quality and safety in their hospitals, Timmons says.

"In China, we have a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Ministry of Health to carry our educational programs," Timmons says. "We also have a partnership agreement with the Peking University to conduct education and research. There are absolutely opportunities in other areas."