NABH 6th Edition: Hospital Accreditation Standards, Objectives & Guidebook

The 6th Edition of the NABH Accreditation Standards for Hospitals sets the benchmark for quality and safety in healthcare delivery in India. These standards ensure that hospitals adopt best practices across various domains, including patient care, medication management, infection control, patient rights, and governance.

These standards enhance patient satisfaction, operational efficiency, and overall healthcare quality.

Key Section Of The NABH 6th Edition Accreditation Standards For Hospitals

1. Access, Assessment, And Continuity Of Care (AAC)

Objective

Ensure timely, appropriate care for patients with seamless continuity from admission to discharge. Implement effective processes for assessments and care coordination.

Key Elements

• Registration And Admission: Establish clear processes for registering and admitting patients to ensure efficient and orderly management.
• Initial And Periodic Assessments: Conduct thorough initial assessments and regular re-assessments to create and update patient care plans.
• Transfer And Discharge Protocols: Implement safe and efficient procedures for patient transfer and discharge, ensuring continuity of care.

To support hospitals in meeting these standards efficiently, LazyMonkey’s QR-based feedback system enables real-time patient feedback, helping healthcare providers continuously improve access, assessment, and continuity of care through actionable insights.

2. Care Of Patients (COP)

Objective

Deliver consistent, high-quality care across all hospital settings. Standardize care protocols and manage high-risk patients with extra attention.

Key Elements

• Emergency And Nursing Care: Standardize emergency response and nursing protocols to ensure consistent and effective care.
• High-Risk Patient Management: Give special attention to high-risk groups, including obstetric and pediatric patients, to ensure their safety and well-being.
• Clinical Procedures: Execute clinical procedures and surgeries safely, adhering to established guidelines and best practices.

3. Medication Management (MOM)

Objective

Ensure safe, effective medication administration to enhance patient safety and therapeutic outcomes. Focus on proper storage, prescription practices, and error monitoring.

Key Elements

• Storage And Dispensing: Implement proper storage and dispensing of medications to prevent errors and ensure availability.
• Prescription Practices: Follow safe and rational prescription practices to promote patient safety and effective treatment.
• Monitoring And Reporting: Regularly monitor for medication errors and adverse reactions, and report incidents to enhance safety.

4. Patient Rights And Education (PRE)

Objective

Protect patients’ rights and empower them with clear education. Ensure informed consent and address patient feedback effectively.

Key Elements

• Informed Consent: Ensure patients provide informed consent for treatments and procedures, understanding the risks and benefits.
• Patient Education: Educate patients about their health conditions and treatment plans in an understandable manner.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Capture and address patient feedback and complaints through effective systems.

5. Infection Prevention And Control (IPC)

Objective

Implement robust infection control measures to minimize healthcare-associated infections. Enforce hand hygiene, sterilization, and waste management protocols.

Key Elements

• Hand Hygiene And PPE: Enforce strict hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment to prevent infections.
• Sterilization And Waste Management: Ensure effective sterilization processes and proper biomedical waste management.
• Surveillance: Continuously monitor and report infection control data to identify and mitigate risks.

6. Patient Safety And Quality Improvement (PSQ)

Objective

Promote a culture of safety and ongoing quality improvement. Implement incident reporting, clinical audits, and active management involvement.

Key Elements

• Incident Reporting: Systematically report and analyze incidents to prevent recurrence and improve safety.
• Clinical Audits: Conduct regular clinical audits to identify areas for improvement and ensure high standards of care.
• Management Support: Engage hospital management actively in quality and safety initiatives to foster a supportive environment.

7. Responsibilities Of Management (ROM)

Objective

Ensure effective governance and strategic management are aligned with the hospital’s mission. Define roles, develop strategic plans, and commit to sustainability.

Key Elements

• Governance Roles: Define clear roles and responsibilities for those in governance to ensure accountability and transparency.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement effective strategic and operational plans for sustained hospital quality and performance.
• Sustainability: Commit to environmental, social, and economic sustainability to enhance long-term healthcare delivery.

8. Facility Management And Safety (FMS)

Objective

Maintain a safe and efficient environment to support high-quality patient care. Focus on infrastructure maintenance, safety protocols, and waste management.

Key Elements

• Infrastructure Maintenance: Conduct regular maintenance of hospital infrastructure and equipment to ensure safety and functionality.
• Safety Protocols: Implement safety protocols to prevent accidents and effectively manage emergencies.
• Waste Management: Handle and dispose of biomedical and general waste efficiently to minimize health risks.

9. Information Management System (IMS)

Objective

Effectively manage patient information and hospital data to support clinical and administrative functions. Ensure data protection, accurate record-keeping, and information sharing.

Key Elements

• Data Protection: Safeguard patient information against unauthorized access and breaches.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation of patient records.
• Information Sharing: Facilitate efficient sharing of patient information among healthcare providers for coordinated care.

10. Human Resource Management (HRM)

Objective

Oversee staff management to ensure high-quality care and performance. Recruit skilled staff, provide training, and support employee welfare.

Key Elements

• Staff Recruitment And Training: Hire qualified staff and provide continuous training to maintain high standards of care.
• Performance Evaluation: Regularly assess staff performance and productivity to ensure effective service delivery.
• Employee Welfare: Promote the well-being and job satisfaction of hospital employees to enhance morale and retention.

NABH 5th Edition Standards and Objective Elements

For reference, the previous NABH 5th edition comprised 100 standards organised into 10 chapters. Each chapter contains objective elements, which guide healthcare facilities in implementing, assessing and maintaining practices that meet NABH accreditation criteria.

The key update in the 5th edition was the introduction of core objective elements, together with a revised scoring system meant to bring more objectivity to assessments and support continuous improvement. The edition emphasised implementation, so that hospitals deliver quality performance in practice, leading to better clinical outcomes and patient experience.

Examples Of Objective Elements Introduced In The 5th Edition

• Post-discharge needs: care planning includes the patient's needs after discharge.
• Clinicopathological meetings: multidisciplinary discussion of complex cases.
• Clinical care pathways: established, consistently implemented across care settings and regularly reviewed.
• Multidisciplinary care planning: in line with clinical best practice and implemented consistently across the organisation.
• Clinical safety officer: a designated person responsible for implementing patient safety programmes.
• Proactive risk analysis: identifying and mitigating potential patient safety risks.
• Risk assessment before construction: assessing patient safety risks before any construction, renovation or expansion.
• Prescribing support: mechanisms that help clinicians prescribe appropriate medications.
• Training effectiveness: assessing the effectiveness of training programmes for healthcare staff.
• Transparency in governance: those in governance inform the public about the quality and performance of services.

If your hospital's policies were written against the 5th edition, check each of these against the current NABH standards document as you update them for the 6th edition.

Official sources: The current standards are in NABH's Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, 6th edition, effective 1 January 2025 (PDF, 16 MB). For the application process, see the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) and its Hospitals Accreditation Programme.

Conclusion

The NABH 6th Edition Accreditation Standards for Hospitals provide a comprehensive framework or NABH indicator for hospitals enhancing healthcare quality and patient safety in India. By adhering to these standards, hospitals can ensure ethical governance, consistent patient care, and continuous quality improvement, leading to better health outcomes and patient satisfaction.

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