Getting Ready for 2021 Joint Commission Perinatal Standards

Patient and Family Rights (PFR) is a common chapter available in the Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation[i] (fifth edition) and Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) Standards for hospitals (second edition)[ii]. JCI Accreditation is a USA based international healthcare accrediting organization, whereas CBAHI is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based national health care accrediting organization. However, both these standards are accredited by Ireland based International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), which is the only accrediting organization who “accredit the accreditors' in the world. In Patient and Family Rights (PFR) chapter of JCI Accreditation for hospitals, there are nineteen (19) standards and seventy-seven (77) measurable elements (ME) whereas in CBAHI Accreditation there are thirty one (31) standards, ninety nine (99) sub-standards and fifty (50) evidence(s) of compliance (EC). The scoring mechanism is totally different in both these accrediting organizations. The researcher has identified thirty two (32) common parameters from JCI Accreditation and CBAHI standards, intent statement, measurable elements, sub-standard and evidence of compliance. On the basis of these identified common parameters, the researcher has compared the Patient and Family Rights chapter in JCI Accreditation and CBAHI Standards. Methods: This is a comparison study (normative comparison) in which the researcher has critically analyzed and compared the Patient and Family Rights (PFR) standards of JCI (Joint Commission International) Accreditation of USA (United States of America) and CBAHI (Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data Collection: Primary data are collected from the JCI Accreditation Standards for hospitals, fifth edition, 2013 and CBAHI Standards for hospitals of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, second edition, 2011. Secondary data are collected from relevant published journals, articles, research papers, academic literature and web portals. Objectives of the Study: The aim of this study is to analyze critically Patient and Family Rights (PFR) Standards in JCI Accreditation and CBAHI Standards to point out the best in among both these standards. Conclusion: This critical analysis of Patient and Family Rights (PFR) Standards in JCI Accreditation and CBAHI Standards for hospitals clearly show that the PFR Standards in CBAHI Standards are very comprehensive than the JCI Accreditation standards.