Journal List > J Korean Med Assoc > v.55(1) > 1042538

Lee: The role of the Korean Hospital Association in Korea's healthcare accreditation system

Abstract

One way to improve quality and safety in healthcare organizations is through accreditation. The Hospital Standardization Programme (HSP) started by the Korean Hospital Association (KHA) in 1981 was the first hospital accreditation body in Korea. The KHA developed the HSP into the Hospital Accreditation Programme (HAP) in 2003, which was designed to evaluate the quality of physicians' training, hospital facilities, and systems. In 2004, the Association adopted a Pass/Fail system by medical department. The introduction of the HAP has a significant meaning in the history of Korean healthcare policy. First, through self-regulating assessment, the HAP plays a major role not only in improving Korean healthcare services but also in establishing mutual confidence between healthcare providers and customers. Secondly, the HAP became the starting point of the quality assurance movement in hospital services, which transformed the mainstream of healthcare services from quantitative change to qualitative change. In response to customer demand, several healthcare evaluation programs such as the Hospital Performance Evaluation Programme (1995-1999), Healthcare Organization Evaluation Programme (2004-2009), and Korea Healthcare Accreditation System (2010-present) have been adopted. In implementing those healthcare evaluation systems, the KHA has played a critical role. Moreover, the KHA plans to revise the HAP Survey Forms, reducing areas overlapping with KHAS and enhancing the training programs to produce the best qualified medical specialists who will provide the best medical services to customers.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
The background and meaning of the hospital standardization programme (HSP). KHA, Korean Hospital Association.
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Figure 2
Reinforcement of hospital standardization program (HSP). HA, hospital accreditation; KoSQUA, the Korean Society of Quality Assurance in Health Care.
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Figure 3
Establishment of Hospital Accreditation Center. HAC, Hospital Accreditation Center; IT, information technology.
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Table 1
Healthcare evaluation systems in Korea
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KHA, Korean Hospital Association; MW, Ministry of Health and Welfare; KHIDI, Korean Health Industry Development Institute; NEMC, National Emergency Medical Center; HIRA, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service; ICU, Intensive Care Unit.

Table 2
Examples of recent accreditation programmes
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From World Health Organization. Quality and accreditation in health care services: a global review. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2000 [8].

JCI, Joint Commission Internationale; QAP, Quality Assurance Project, USA; PAHO, Pan American Health Organization; EFQM, European Foundation for Quality Management; USAID, United States Agency for International Development.

Table 3
Relationship of the accreditation organization to government
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From World Health Organization. Quality and accreditation in health care services: a global review. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2000 [8].

CSB, Clninical Standards Boards for Scotland; ACHS, Australian Council on Healthcare Standards; QIC, Quality Improvement Council, Australia; AGPAL, Australian General Practice Accreditation Ltd.; HQS, Health Quality Service, UK; HAP, Hospital Accreditation Programme, UK; NCQA, National Committee for Quality Assurance, USA.

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