The Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki received the top international quality & safety accreditation Joint Commission International (JCI)
The Diabalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki, a member of the Athens Medical Group, received the Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission International (JCI), becoming the first hospital in Northern Greece to achieve one of the most rigorous and reliable certifications for quality and safety of healthcare services worldwide.
The inclusion in the international network of accredited hospitals of Joint Commission International places Thessaloniki Interbalkan Medical Hospital in the elite of the global community of hospitals that meet the highest international standards of quality and safety, confirming the strategic commitment of the Athens Medical Group to providing safe and high-quality health services, with continuous compliance with the strictest international standards.
The accreditation by the Joint Commission International concerns the full range of services included in the operating license of the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki, including the General, Obstetrics and Paediatric Clinics, the In Vitro Fertilization Unit, as well as the new International Oncology Center. This overall assessment highlights the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki as a comprehensive care organization, while for the patient, JCI accreditation translates into substantial and measurable benefits, such as higher levels of safety at every stage of hospitalization, documented clinical practices and continuous control of the quality of care provided.
As part of the certification, a group of international inspectors from Joint Commission International conducted on-site, extensive and rigorous audits at the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki, based on the 8th edition of JCI standards, assessing the compliance of clinical, administrative and support services with more than 1,000 requirements and measurable criteria, which cover the entire operation of the hospital. This process functions as an independent audit of the actual provision of services, validating the systematic effort for continuous improvement at all levels of operation.
The assessment covered, among others, patient safety and the International Patient Safety Goals, access and continuity of care, medical, anaesthetic and surgical care, safe use of medicines, infection prevention and control, quality improvement, administration and leadership, facility and equipment safety, staff training and competence, as well as global health impact, which includes sustainable development, environmental responsibility and social contribution.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Athens Medical Group, Dr. Vasilis G. Apostolopoulos, said in this regard: “The Joint Commission International accreditation for the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki is a significant milestone for the Athens Medical Group and comes in a year of particular importance, as the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki completes 25 years of continuous provision of high-level health services. Our choice to pursue accreditation according to international standards such as JCI is not based on regulatory requirements nor on promotion goals, but is a strategic commitment to continuously improving the quality of the health services we offer. The fact that the Inter-Balkan Medical Hospital of Thessaloniki is the first and only hospital in Northern Greece with JCI accreditation confirms its role as a reference pillar for Northern Greece and the wider region, while at the same time reflecting the consistency, methodicality and collective effort of our people, who work daily with the patient in mind and the highest international standards of care.»
About the Joint Commission International (JCI)
The Joint Commission International (JCI), founded in 1997, is a non-profit organization and subsidiary of The Joint Commission. Through international accreditation and quality improvement programs, it supports healthcare organizations in more than 100 countries. JCI standards have been developed in collaboration with international health experts, service providers and patients, and are based on in the international scientific literature and serve as a framework for measuring, evaluating and continuously improving the performance of healthcare organizations.
