Fatemeh Bostani - MSc Student, Department of Health Services Management, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Mohammad Zakaria Kiaei - MSc, Department of Health Services Management, Faculty of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Rohollah Zaboli - Associate Professor, Department of Health Services Management, Faculty of Health, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Rohollah Kalhor - Associate Professor, Ph.D in Health Services Management, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

Background: Compliance with international standards makes it possible to upgrade hospitals in the field of health tourism. This study evaluated the readiness of hospitals in Ahvaz to attract health tourists using the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation standards.Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in ۲۰۱۹ in ۲۱ hospitals in Ahvaz. The participants were selected using the census sampling method. The data were collected using a questionnaire that assessed ۸ main components of patient-centered standards. The face validity of the instrument was assessed and confirmed by subject-matter experts and its reliability was estimated using Cronbach’s alpha with a value of ۰.۸۷. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean, standard deviation, and percentage, and also inferential statistics including Mann-Whitney U tests, with SPSS ۲۲ software.Results: The highest and lowest scores were related to the anesthesia and surgical care standard (۸۳.۴۷%) and the patient safety standard (۷۰.۷۱%), respectively. The mean score of these standards in non-teaching hospitals (۸۰.۱۵%) was higher than that of teaching hospitals (۷۷.۷۱%), but this difference was not significant (P = ۰.۲۰۵).Conclusion: Medical centers can play a greater role in the health market by investing more in high-scoring standards and introducing them as their unique capabilities. In addition, low-scoring standards can be enhanced, if needed, by developing comprehensive staff training programs and modifying some processes.

Evaluation of hospitals, Ahvaz, Health tourism, Patient-centered standards, Joint International Commission