The Importance of Accreditation in Home Health Care in KSA

Home Health Care (HCC) is a component of continuum comprehensive health care whereby health services are provided to individuals and families in their places of residence for the purpose of promoting, maintaining or restoring health, or maximizing the level of independence while minimizing the effects of disability and illness. The International Institute of Medical Education defines accreditation as a self-regulatory process by which governmental, non-governmental, voluntary associations or other statutory bodies grant formal recognition to institutions programs that meet stated criteria of institution quality. The importance of Accreditation in Home Health Care includes, Ensure the quality of the HHC program, Ensure that cross-disciplinary and subject-specific quality standards are maintained, Encourage institutional improvements, Make institutional structures and degrees internationally compatible, Increase public and stakeholder trust in the HHC program, Foster national and international recognition of the HHC program, Promote the diversity and quality of the HHC program, Improve the quality output and efficiency of the HHC program, Identify both strengths& weaknesses and Encourage innovation& re-orientation toward changing health needs. The aim of accreditation is to improve the health status of communities and the quality of services in the HHC department. Accreditation of the HHC department is very beneficial for the department, staff, and communities. It is one way to improve the outcomes of the HHC department. It aims to adjust the HHC department programs to the ever-changing conditions in the health care delivery systems and to produce professionals who can serve societies in accordance with their health needs and expectations and the accreditation process's general aims are to certify that the HHC department program meets prescribed standards and to promote institutional self-evaluation and improvement.