Quality Assurance and ISO 9001:2000 in International Hospital Kampala.

The Quality Management System in International Hospital Kampala has been designed according to ISO 9001:2000 requirements, so as to achieve and sustain quality services in the organisation.

It is an ongoing system, by which all the activities in IHK are run. We maintain the system through spot-checks, quality assurance training, departmental shadowing sessions and audits.

ISO 9001:2000 is a series of documents that define the requirements for a Quality Management Systems in companies.

Our goal as a department is to:
a) Ensure that processes needed for the quality management system at International Hospital Kampala are established, implemented and maintained.

b) Keep an updated reporting structure on the performance of the quality management system and any need for improvement.

c) Ensure the promotion of awareness of customer requirements throughout the organization.

The Purpose of Having A Quality Management System

One of the main reasons we decided to undergo ISO 9001:2000 certification is because we want to be recognized as a top-notched, private, Ugandan, medical organisation, implementing quality services to international standards. We are committed to sustaining professionalism through best practices in management and clinical styles.

Implementing and sustaining our ISO project has helped us increase sales, lower operational costs, improve cash flows and revenues, improve customer services, improve efficiency in service delivery, and broaden the range of services offered for our clients and staff. ISO has helped us improve our overall service provision.

Work carried out to Date

The following outlines the activities that were carried out in preparation for the ISO certification audits and facilitation of the Quality Management System.

• Revamped our corporate profile, structure and overall organizational structure of our work system

• Reviewed and edited our basic documentation

• Worked diligently to organize and inform our staff and clients about creating a Quality Management System

• Designed and created the necessary tables, structures and standards for each department

• Created a quality policy, a quality plan and other management planning systems

• Established quality principles and establishment package, such as an analysis of our core business process, our supporting processes, and allocation of the process owners of our IHK quality initiative

• Created procedures for making continuous efforts to set and achieve objectives in all departments

• Continue checking and reviewing documents

• The organization was audited by BVQI Kenya on October 15, 2004. The audit results were recommended for ISO certification to the ISO certification board in the United Kingdom.

• We underwent a successful external surveillance audit with BVQI in October 2005 and are scheduled for a subsequent audit in October 2006.

• We continue to have internal audits every 3 months in all departments

• We have now embarked on attaining ISO 9001: 2000 for our sister company- International Air Ambulance (IAA) and related clinics.