The document discusses blood bank accreditation. Accreditation is a voluntary process that assesses an organization's quality systems and commitment to continuous improvement. It focuses on learning, self-development, and reducing risks. Accreditation benefits users through improved safety and quality of blood services, and benefits blood banks by stimulating improvement, maximizing satisfaction, and raising community confidence. In India, the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals sets standards for blood bank accreditation.

1. BLOOD BANK ACCREDITATION… A tool for quality improvement

2. What is Blood Bank Accreditation?23-Jun-09Accreditation of Blood BanksAccreditation is a voluntary process. Its standards are usually regarded as optimal and achievable.

3. It provides a visible commitment by an organization to improve the quality of and safety of collecting, processing, testing, transfusion and distribution of blood and blood products.

4. Accreditation has gained worldwide attention as an effective quality evaluation and management tool.

5. The focus of accreditation is on continuous improvement in the organization by assesses the quality and operational systems in place within the facility. It is not just the achievement of a certificate or award or merely assuring compliance with minimum acceptable standards.

6. Accreditation focuses on learning, self development, improved performance and reducing risk.Definition - “A self-assessment and external peer assessment process used by health care organizations to accurately assess their level of performance in relation to established standard and then to implement ways to continuously improve it”.2

7. Why Accreditation?Blood banks/ blood centres are an integral part of health care system. Accreditation would be the single most important approach for improving the quality of blood banks.

8. It is a Public Recognition of the achievement of accreditation standards by an organization, demonstrated through an independent external peer assessment of that organization's level of performance in relation to the standards.

9. Attract good customers.

10. To envisage a fundamental change in the technical procedures of service delivery, in the appropriate use of available technologies, in the integration of relevant knowledge, in the way the resources are used, and in the efforts to ensure social participation.

11. Helps improve effectiveness, efficiency and in cost containment, and accountability by reducing errors and increasing safety in the system.23-Jun-093

12. Driving Factors for AccreditationConsumer Protection Act

13. Clinical Establishment Act

14. Insurance Companies regulation