Factors affecting the implementation of joint commission international standards in United Arab Emirates hospitals

Al Attal, ZZ

Abstract

The implementation of quality management systems (QMSs) is a world-wide
phenomenon, particularly in organisations in developing countries. which have used
different QMSs to improve the quality of their goods and services. loint Commission
International (lCI) is an international body issuing healthcare standards following the
principles of Total Quality Management to improve quality and patient safety.
The influence of the trend towards implementing QMSs by adopting an international
framework has reached the Middle East through the continuous efforts of healthcare
organisations to achieve international accreditation using lCI standards. The public
sector hospitals are the leading hospitals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in
achieving accreditation and meeting lCI standards. Indeed. many hospitals in the
Middle East in general and in the UAE in particular are in the process of achieving lei
accreditation. This research examines how various factors affect the processes of
implementing lCI standards in UAE hospitals.
The research is qualitative in nature, employing a case study approach and using semistructured
interviews as the main data collection tool within two hospitals in the Emirate
of Dubai. Several other tools are used in order to achieve triangulation and to deepen the
understanding of the factors identified.
Contributions to knowledge are made by the research, which represents the first attempt
to investigate empirically the processes of implementing lCI standards in UAE
hospitals. The original contribution of the research is in providing an in-depth
understanding of the factors affecting this process. These factors are grouped into four
main categories: organisational factors, human resource issues, cultural issues and
technical factors. A unique contribution of the study is the identification of several ne\\
factors within the cultural context that could affect the implementation of the lCI
standards.

Citation

Al Attal, Z. Factors affecting the implementation of joint commission international standards in United Arab Emirates hospitals. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jul 21, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 21, 2011
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2009