Two hospitals from the Vithas health group collected the Joint Commission International certificate, the most rigorous healthcare accreditation in the world

The hospitals Vithas Xanit International (Benalmadena) and Vithas International-Nuestra Señora de America (Madrid) officially received last April the most rigorous hospital accreditation in the world: the certificate of recognition for the quality and patient safety awarded by the JCI. Jorge Gallardo, President of Vithas, Jose Luis Pardo, Director General, Paula Vallejo, Director of Quality, Mercedes Mengibar, Managing Director of Vithas Xanit International, Ignacio Martinez, Managing Director of Vithas International-Nuestra Señora de América and representatives of both hospitals attended the event. The ceremony, that took place at the Palau de la Musica Catalana, was held within the framework of the annual ceremony of the Avedis Donabedian Awards for Quality Healthcare. The certificates for the hospitals accredited by the JCI in 2017 were delivered by Dr Paul Chang, Vice President of Accreditation, Standards, and Measurement of the Joint Commission International.

In July 2017, both hospitals of the Vithas health group received the official JCI communication recognising their high standards of healthcare quality and patient safety. This accreditation places them in the same league with other prestigious hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic and the Johns Hopkins and Mount Sinai Hospitals (USA). This was the second time for Vithas Xanit International Hospital to be awarded this prestigious accreditation since the first JCI recognition was received back in 2014. 

In Spain only 14 hospitals are accredited by the JCI. The process entails the candidate hospitals undergoing a rigorous evaluation process in which more than 1,200 parameters are measured directly or indirectly, all linked to the processes of patient healthcare and assistance. Among those are: safety, patient rights, scientific evidence, qualification and development of the professionals involved in the institution, and coordination of healthcare and support processes.

About the Joint Commission International

The JCI defines, publishes and evaluates internationally best practices regarding quality and patient safety in healthcare organisations.

Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognised nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organisation’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards. The mission and the vision of JCI are that all people always experience the safest, highest quality, best-value care across all healthcare settings. The JCI model includes demanding quality standards related to the entire patient healthcare process (assessment of patient needs, medication management, anaesthesia and surgery, diagnostic services, etc.) and organisation management (human resources, leadership, infection control, among others), especially highlighting the content focused on ensuring patient safety.

The Vithas Promise: high quality accredited healthcare, personal service and long term commitment

Vithas is the first healthcare operator with 100 por ciento Spanish capital. Its strategic commitment is defined by supporting the healthcare with the standards of quality accreditation of the highest international prestige, the Joint Commission International. Only 14 prestigious hospitals in Spain have such accreditation and recognition, and two of them are part of Vithas, in Madrid and Malaga. Each year Vithas cares for more than 5.000.000 patients in its 19 hospitals and 29 medical centres called Vithas Salud. The 48 centres are distributed throughout the country and include hospitals in Alicante, Almeria, Benalmadena, Castellon, Granada, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lleida, Madrid, Malaga, Sevilla, Tenerife, Vigo, Valencia and Vitoria- Gasteiz. The 29 Vithas Salud centres are located in Alicante, Almuñecar, Elche, El Ejido, Fuengirola, Granada, La Estrada, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lleida, Madrid, Malaga, Marin, Nerja, Pontevedra, Rincon de la Victoria, Sanxenxo, Sevilla, Torre del Mar, Torremolinos, Vilagarcia, and Vitoria-Gasteiz. Vithas also counts upon more than 300 extraction points spread throughout Spain thanks to its network of Vithas Lab laboratories. Its own central purchasing office, PlazaSalud24, as a leader in the sector, provides service to 39 hospitals, 35 medical centres and 20 dental clinics.

Vithas has a strategic agreement with a hospital leader in the Balearic Islands, the Juaneda Healthcare Network, which has 5 hospitals and a wide network of medical centres throughout the region.

Vithas' commitment to accredited quality healthcare and personalised service goes hand in hand with the firm support and long-term vision of Vithas' shareholders: Goodgrower, who control 80 por ciento of the capital, and the' La Caixa' group, with the remaining 20 por ciento. With a growth model based on geographical diversification and sustainability, Vithas plans to continue consolidating its national presence both by opening new centres and through acquisitions and strategic agreements.