CASE STUDY

American Mission Hospital, BAHRAIN

Paul L. Armerding, MD FACS

Chief Medical Officer / CEO

American Mission Hospital (AMH), Bahrain

Why did you select to undertake accreditation with ACHSI?

American Mission Hospital (AMH) is a small, non-profit institution focused on providing high-quality, reasonably-priced health care services to middle and lower-middle income persons. In addition, we budget for a modest amount of charitable care to be rendered each year. As a result, we run at break even.

ACHSI offers us a rational approach to raising our continuous quality improvement practices. Standards are well thought out, meaningful for patient safety and quality of care, and applicable in a context like Bahrain. The four-year cycle helps ensure that quality improvement becomes the lifestyle of the American Mission Hospital.

The ACHSI program was affordable for the American Mission Hospital

What has been the most worthwhile aspect of participating in ACHSI Accreditation?

Preparing for accreditation drew the best from our leadership and staff. We developed an improved team approach to problem solving.

The personnel of American Mission Hospital cooperated in all aspects of upgrading our standards and demonstrated a clear understanding of the long-term benefits of doing so. I believe the message of continuous quality improvement was effectively communicated and put into practice.

Striving towards accreditation created a sense of oneness in the organisation as we were all trying to reach the same goal.

What has been the biggest impact in your organisation?

Regularising a culture of quality improvement and patient safety.

Why do you believe accreditation is important?

We believe we need the opinion of qualified persons from outside the American Mission Hospital to assess our quality and guide the quality improvement process.

Do you have any comments regarding ACHSI, the accreditation process or the ACHSI surveyors?

We see the relationship between the American Mission Hospital and the ACHSI as an ongoing source of strength for our development.

The surveyors, both those who did the mock survey and the formal survey, were objective in their outlook and constructive in their comments.