Nabh Accreditation For Hospitals

National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) is a part of the Board of Quality Council of India. NABH was set up to establish and operate an accreditation programme for healthcare and wellness centres in India. In this article, we look at the process of obtaining Nabh Accreditation For Hospitals in India.

NABH Accreditation

NABH accreditation is a way for hospitals in India to implement standards and procedures on par with global benchmarks. NABH is a member of the International Society for Quality In Health Care (ISQUA), an international accreditation body in the areas of healthcare. As a member of ISQUA, NABH has joined a handful of countries that match and authenticate healthcare services to global standards. Thus, a hospital having NABH Accreditation delivers services on par with global standard and serves as a boost to medical tourism in India.

In addition to Nabh Accreditation For Hospitals, NABH also provides Accreditation for:

Small Healthcare Organizations
- Small Healthcare Organisation is those healthcare organizations having bed strength upto 50 beds.
Blood Banks
Blood Storage Centres
Medical Imaging Services
Dental Health Care Service Providers
Oral Substitution Therapy Centres
Allopathic Clinics
AYUSH Hospitals
- Accreditation Program for AYUSH (Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha and Yoga & Naturopathy) Hospitals.
Community Health Centres
Primary Health Centres
Wellness Centres

Benefits for Hospitals

Having NABH Accreditation has various benefits for the different stakeholders of a hospital. For patients, having NABH accreditation results in high-quality healthcare services delivery and patient safety. For the hospital, NABH accreditation helps the hospital demonstrate the commitment to quality healthcare thereby increasing revenue from foreign medical tourists and domestic patients, looking for quality healthcare service providers. For the medical staff, the Accreditation process serves as a way to have the continuous learning, good working environment and strong clinical processes. NABH accreditation serves to improve the overall professional development of Clinicians and Para Medical Staff.

NABH Standards for Hospitals

The NABH Standards for hospitals provide a framework for quality of care for patients and quality improvement for hospitals. The standards help to build a quality culture at all level and across all the function of the hospital. The complete NABH Standards consists of 102 standards and 636 objective elements. To obtain NABH Accreditation, a hospital must be willing and able to demonstrate that the hospital functions as per the NABH standards. The following are an outline of NABH Standards:

NABH Standards patient-centred Standards

Access, Assessment and Continuity of Care (AAC)
Care of Patient (COP)
Management of Medication (MOM)
Patient Right and Education (PRE)
Hospital Infection Control (HIC)

Organisation Centered Standards

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
Responsibility of Management (ROM)
Facility Management and Safety (FMS)
Human Resource Management (HRM)
Information Management System(IMS)

Process for NABH Accreditation

To begin the process for obtaining NABH Accreditation, the hospital management must begin by implementing the NABH standards and nominating a person to coordinate all activities related to seeking accreditation. The person-in-charge and hospital management must understand the NABH assessment procedures and ensure that the NABH standards are implemented in the organization. At least 3 months prior to submission of NABH Accreditation application, the hospital must conduct a self-assessment and ensure that it operates as per NABH standards.

If satisfied with the self-assessment, the hospital can make an application to NABH for Accreditation along with the necessary documents and fees. NABH will then conduct a pre-assessment and point out corrections and check the preparedness of the hospital for final assessment. Once the necessary corrective actions are taken, a final assessment will be conducted by NABH by way of a comprehensive review of hospital functions and services. Based on the review and assessment report of the final assessment team from NABH, a NABH Accreditation Committee will award NABH Accreditation. The validity period for accreditation is 3 years subject to terms and conditions.

To know more about NABH Accreditation, get in touch with a hospital consultant through Nearest. Expert.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about NABH Accreditation for Hospitals in India.

NABH Accreditation is a process by which hospitals and healthcare providers in India are assessed and certified to meet global standards of quality and patient safety. It is offered by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), a constituent board of the Quality Council of India.

NABH Accreditation is crucial for hospitals as it demonstrates their commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare services and ensuring patient safety. It helps hospitals improve their overall professional development, attract more patients (including medical tourists), and increase revenue.

Apart from hospitals, NABH provides accreditation to various healthcare facilities, including small healthcare organizations, blood banks, medical imaging services, dental clinics, oral substitution therapy centers, Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) hospitals, community health centers, primary health centers, and wellness centers.

The NABH Standards for hospitals cover a wide range of areas, including patient-centered standards (access, assessment, and continuity of care, care of patients, medication management, patient rights and education, and hospital infection control) and organization-centered standards (continuous quality improvement, management responsibility, facility management and safety, human resource management, and information management system).

To begin the NABH Accreditation process, a hospital must first implement the NABH standards and nominate a person to coordinate all accreditation-related activities. The hospital must conduct a self-assessment and ensure it operates as per NABH standards before applying for accreditation.

The main steps in the NABH Accreditation process include submitting an application, undergoing a pre-assessment, implementing corrective actions (if required), a final assessment by NABH assessors, and a review by the NABH Accreditation Committee, which awards the accreditation.

NABH Accreditation for hospitals is valid for a period of three years, subject to terms and conditions set by NABH.

For patients, NABH Accreditation ensures that they receive high-quality healthcare services and that their safety is prioritized by the hospital. It also helps patients identify hospitals that meet global standards of care.

NABH Accreditation benefits medical staff by providing them with a continuous learning environment, a good working environment, and strong clinical processes. It also contributes to their overall professional development.

While NABH Accreditation is not mandatory for hospitals in India, it is highly recommended as it demonstrates a hospital's commitment to quality and patient safety, and can help attract more patients and improve revenue.