NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers) offers multiple accreditation pathways. But which one is right for your hospital? This guide breaks down the key differences between Entry Level Certification and Full Hospital Accreditation.
Quick Comparison Table
| Criteria | Entry Level | Full Accreditation |
|---|---|---|
| Standards Count | 50 Standards | 600+ Standards |
| Validity | 2 Years | 3 Years |
| NABH Fees | ₹50K - ₹2L | ₹3L - ₹5L |
| Total Investment | ₹2L - ₹5L | ₹10L - ₹25L |
| Timeline | 3-6 Months | 10-18 Months |
| Insurance Benefits | Limited | Full TPA Rates |
| Best For | Small Hospitals (≤50 beds) | Large Hospitals (50+ beds) |
What is NABH Entry Level Certification?
NABH Entry Level Certification is designed for smaller hospitals and nursing homes that want to begin their quality improvement journey without the full commitment of complete accreditation.
It focuses on 50 foundational standards covering:
- Patient Rights and Education
- Care of Patients (basic protocols)
- Infection Control essentials
- Patient Safety goals
- Hospital Infection Control
What is NABH Full Accreditation?
Full NABH Hospital Accreditation is the gold standard for healthcare quality in India. It evaluates hospitals against 600+ objective elements across 10 chapters.
Full accreditation covers comprehensive standards including:
- Access, Assessment, and Continuity of Care (AAC)
- Care of Patients (COP)
- Management of Medication (MOM)
- Patient Rights and Education (PRE)
- Hospital Infection Control (HIC)
- Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
- Responsibilities of Management (ROM)
- Facility Management and Safety (FMS)
- Human Resource Management (HRM)
- Information Management System (IMS)
When to Choose Entry Level
- Hospital Size: Under 50 beds
- Budget: Limited capital for quality initiatives
- Experience: First-time quality certification
- Goal: Build quality culture before full accreditation
- Timeline: Need certification quickly (3-6 months)
When to Choose Full Accreditation
- Hospital Size: 50+ beds or multi-specialty
- Insurance: Want higher TPA reimbursement rates
- Reputation: Compete with corporate hospital chains
- Compliance: Government tender requirements
- International: Plan for JCI accreditation later
SHCO Accreditation: The Middle Ground
For hospitals with 10-50 beds, NABH offers SHCO (Small Healthcare Organization) accreditation. This is more comprehensive than Entry Level but less demanding than Full Accreditation.
SHCO is ideal for:
- Nursing homes and maternity hospitals
- Small multi-specialty hospitals
- Day care surgery centers
How Hospital Software Helps
Modern hospital management software like Adrine can significantly reduce the burden of NABH compliance by:
- Auto-Documentation: Generating compliant medical records automatically
- Quality Indicators: Real-time dashboards for NABH KPIs
- Infection Control: Digital tracking of HAI rates
- Audit Trails: Complete logs for assessment reviews
- Report Generation: One-click NABH compliance reports
Conclusion: Make Your Decision
If you're a small hospital just starting your quality journey, Entry Level is the smart choice. It builds the foundation without overwhelming your staff or budget.
If you're a larger hospital competing for insurance patients and government contracts, Full Accreditation is worth the investment.
Either way, investing in NABH-compliant hospital software will make your accreditation journey significantly smoother.
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