Sustaining Excellence: A Post-Nabh Accreditation Study of ICU Quality Dynamics

National accreditation system for hospitals ensures that hospitals, whether public or private, national or expatriate, play their expected roles in national health system.1Quality has emerged as a crucial term for the current generation of medical professionals. Most hospitals and healthcare providers are classified and evaluated according to the quality and efficacy of their establishment. Established to oversee the accreditation process for healthcare organizations and institutions, the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) is an essential board of the Quality Council of India. Accreditation is the public recognition of healthcare institutions that satisfy NABH standards after an unbiased external assessment by a group of qualified assessors.2The World Health Organization (2018) emphasizes that mechanisms for quality assurance, such as accreditation, are crucial for enhancing health systems, particularly in countries with limited resources. Various studies illustrate the positive impacts of accreditation on health care outcomes. The National Health Policy (NHP) of India serves as a foundational framework for the country's health system and its aims. Introduced in 1983 and updated in 2017, the NHP focuses on universal health coverage, equity, and the provision of high-quality healthcare services. A key element of this policy is the integration of quality accreditations.3Accreditation serves as a systematic method for ensuring quality governance in hospitals and is based on the highest standards. India is not only establishing many state-of-the-art hospitals but is also experiencing an increase in the need for high-quality services and medical tourism. In 2006, India launched its accreditation system that aligns with standards acknowledged by ISQua.4In India, the leading accreditation authority is the NABH, which is part of the Quality Council of India. The purpose of establishing the NABH was to improve the healthcare system and support ongoing quality enhancement and patient safety. As of March 2021, over 1299 hospitals in India had received accreditation, highlighting the significant role of accreditation within the healthcare sector. The accreditation process allows for an evaluation of the current setup, processes, and activities, transforming them into process maps, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and the standards and norms outlined by various accreditation bodies. It provides a set of goals and objectives that guide organizations toward achieving quality care, and failure to comply can result in the revocation of accreditation. The period after obtaining accreditation is critical, as the achievements realized during the accreditation process must be preserved. Once the foundational structure is established and the functions and activities are finalized and optimized, fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement should be prioritized within the organization.5