KJO Hospital and BSI Egypt achieve a world first

Al-Khafji Joint Operations Hospital (KSA), along with its ISO certification partners, BSI Egypt, have together realized a major milestone, becoming the second medical facility and the first hospital in the world to be registered to PAS 99 Integrated Management System Specification.

KJO Hospital, owned by Khafji Joint Operations, is managed and staffed by Saudi Medicare Company (SMC), and has been certified to ISO 9001:2000, the quality management systems standard, since June 2006.

In working with BSI's Cairo office since 2005, the SMC management and QA Department Team of the hospital identified the advantages of also becoming certified to ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, in order to have a more holistic process approach to the scope and output of service delivery, the impacts of the processes they implement, as well as the requirements to be met. Incorporating all three standards into a unified integrated management system under the PAS 99 specification was viewed as a logical progression and essential approach in managing the total scope and depth of quality, primarily in one platform of common requirements.

To further ensure a systematic integration of all processes and outputs at all levels, a unique fully integrated core process methodology of process modeling was developed to better identify and control multi-disciplinary process interrelation and interaction, health and safety risks, and environmental aspects at all levels of service delivery. This was an extensive exercise utilizing cross-functional working groups, the multi-disciplinary Quality Committee, focus groups, and awareness presentations, but the benefits of process owner participation in modeling, and the staff awareness of all aspects of quality, safety and environment that was derived from the work are obvious in the accomplishment of closer team integration and recognition by registration in PAS 99.

John Clarke (project director) and Ralph Shokey (hospital manager and QA manager) agree that - "the implementation of integrated core process modeling in an IMS platform allows us a more thorough cross-functional understanding of the processes, and therefore a higher level of process ownership and conformity, resulting in a more consistent, efficient and effective service delivery.

"This also simplifies the overall understanding, setting, and monitoring of targets and objectives, therefore facilitating our planning and quality improvements.

"Seeking PAS IMS Certification was a logical progression in our approach to a quality system that addresses all aspects of our responsible service delivery."

For more information on PAS 99: http://www.bsigroup.com/en/Assessment-and-certification-services/management-systems/Standards-and-Schemes/PAS-99/

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