Automated Management System for Accreditation of Clinical Engineering Department in Hospitals

In this study, we attempted to identify systematic differences in quality management between the Joint Commission International (JCI)–accredited and non–JCI-accredited CED by designing a specific automated evaluation system depending on the technology of cloud computing. Understanding the similarities, dissimilarities, and factors that sustain accreditation within hospitals is the main aim of this work. Another goal is to investigate, describe, and prioritize the measurements and requirements demanded to achieve a minimum accepted level that qualifies nonaccredited ones to be JCI accredited. A questionnaire that targeted the clinical engineering department was developed. It comprises CED roles and the corresponding JCI standards to differentiate accredited from nonaccredited CEDs. A score index has been developed using answering rates of questionnaire to assess CED roles and overall performance of the department. Based on the score index, the CED is classified into 4 classes. System verification was carried out using a data set of 9 Egyptian hospitals. The results revealed the minimum benchmark level of acceptance for JCI accreditation. The system proves its consistency and correctly separated JCI-accredited from nonaccredited CEDs.
Source: Journal of Clinical Engineering - Category: Medical Devices Tags: FEATURE ARTICLES Source Type: research