(Amman, 22 November 2021) Under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II, the Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC) launched today its Sixth Quality Healthcare Conference and Exhibition entitled "Quality and Safety in the wake of the Pandemic - Ready for the new norm." The conference is being held over two days through an online platform with free access to medical and health sciences students in Jordan with participation of a diverse healthcare workforce form Jordan and the region.
This year conference aims to discuss the impact of the Covid19 pandemic on health institutions' adherence to quality and safety standards, and the impact of the institutions' overall application of those standards on their ability to deal with the crisis.
Dr. Moeen Habashneh, former Director General of Royal Medical Services and honorary member of HCAC board of directors will chair the conference. The conference will host as keynote speaker Dr. Tejal Gandhi, the Chief Safety and Transformation Officer at Press Ganey and one of the most influential figures in the healthcare sector in the world.
Conference chairperson Dr. Habashneh , said in a press release that "There is a constant need to apply quality standards and patient safety methods in healthcare, and the crisis has come to further demonstrate this necessity and to clarify the impact of health institutions' application of quality standards on their ability to deal with the pandemic,". He added: “The conference will provide an opportunity for participants from Jordan, the Arab region and the world to share practical experiences and document lessons learned to deal with the crisis and beyond."
“With the pandemic response leaving healthcare workers burnt out and exacerbating gaps in health equity, HCAC is at the forefront of uniting world-renowned healthcare executives to address the underlying implications of workforce well-being and diversity on patient safety,” said Dr. Gandhi. “As leaders, we have an unwavering commitment to make care safer for patients and clinicians as we set out to reduce preventable harm.”
The conference includes workshops and panel discussions on different subjects, such as: the best practices for dealing with crises; creating innovative solutions to deal with challenges in the health sector; the importance of emotional intelligence among medical providers; ways to improve quality standards; ways to manage biological risks in laboratories as well as indicators of safety of healthcare workers; and the importance of physical and psychological health to medical care workers.
The conference concludes with a panel discussion on ways to improve quality in the health sector in Jordan and the Arab region, with participation from the Jordanian Minister of Health Dr. Firas Al-Hawari and former Regional Director for the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, Dr. Ala'adin Alwan.
At the closing session of the conference, names of winners in the HCAC Quality Competition will be announced. The competition is organized to showcase and celebrate accredited organizations' success stories, innovative initiatives and ideas that seek to adapt to the permanent change caused by the Covid-19 crisis and can leave a strong, long-lasting impact.
The conference is sponsored by Capital Bank, Hikma, Saudi Jordanian Investment Fund, Ahli Bank, Bank of Jordan, Bank Etihad, and biolab and supported by many partners.
The Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC) is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of health care services in Jordan and the region through developing internationally recognized quality standards, consultation, capacity building, accreditation and raising awareness.
