Abu Dhabi, UAE, 20 November 2024: Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), one of the UAE’s largest hospitals for serious and complex care and a subsidiary of PureHealth, has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Gold Seal of Approval’ from the Joint Commission International (JCI), in the Academic Medical Centre Accreditation programme. This significant milestone establishes SSMC as the first academic medical centre in the UAE and the first hospital in Abu Dhabi to receive this recognition.
JCI standards serve as the foundation of an evaluation process that defines rigorous international standards on quality, patient safety and healthcare performance. This accreditation was achieved through a demanding process involving the Medical Education, Clinical Research and Quality Improvement Departments. These key stakeholders played a fundamental role in ensuring SSMC’s adherence to these high standards.
Several significant achievements in key focus areas have culminated in SSMC’s attainment of JCI’s Academic Medical Centre Accreditation. Notably, SSMC demonstrated excellence in medical professional education through initiatives that enhance learning, integrate modern technology and foster partnerships with leading academic institutions. Concurrently, the Clinical Research team has adopted advanced protocols that adhere to international standards, ensuring robust, ethical and innovative practices while prioritising patient safety.
Furthermore, SSMC implemented comprehensive quality improvement and patient safety programmes, reinforcing its position as a global leader in healthcare excellence.
As a tertiary care hospital, SSMC already collaborates with three leading medical schools, serving as one of the UAE’s principal training sites for medical students and postgraduate medical trainees. SSMC is also at the forefront of advancing medical, academic and human subjects research under multiple approved protocols, involving patients in cutting-edge studies that contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge and the improvement of patient care.
Commenting on the hospital’s latest in a long line of medical sector accolades, Dr. Marwan Al Kaabi, chief executive officer at SSMC, said: “Receiving JCI’s ‘Gold Seal of Approval’ is more than just a milestone for SSMC, it reflects our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of healthcare on a global level. The JCI accreditation is widely recognised as the gold standard for quality and safety in the healthcare industry, underscoring our commitment to providing world-class care.
“This achievement distinguishes SSMC as a leader in medical proffessional education, research, quality and patient safety. We are honoured to establish a new standard for medical excellence and we will continue to advance medical innovation and patient care.”
Elaborating on this announcement, Dr. Abdulkarim Saleh, dean of education at SSMC, said: “This prestigious accreditation is testament to our steadfast commitment to excellence in healthcare innovation, education and research, placing SSMC among the elite healthcare institutions, globally.”
Acknowledgement by JCI adds to the many other accreditations SSMC has already received from both national and international entities. This vindicates the hospital’s commitment to providing exceptional personalised care, fostering innovation, and continuously striving to exceed the expectations of both patients and international accreditation bodies.
