Best Practices in Private-Public Partnerships – Cooperation between the Nursing Union and American Hospital Tbilisi within the framework of the project Business Partnership for Future Professionals, started in April 2023, with the signing of a Memorandum of Partnership between the parties.  

American Hospital Tbilisi is a provider of innovative, high-quality, and safe medical services and holds the Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation, recognized as the gold standard in global hospital accreditation.  

 Interview with Dr. Ercan Ayyildiz, CEO of American Hospital Tbilisi

Dr. Ercan Ayyildiz, CEO of American Hospital Tbilisi, which hold the Gold Standard in Hospital Accreditation, Joint Commission Accreditation JCI, is a medical doctor by profession, with master’s and PhD degrees in Health Administration.  

Dr. Ayyildiz has 15 years of experience in healthcare management. He has visited nearly 40 countries and worked in 17 countries as a consultant in healthcare management. He was involved in healthcare system development projects during wars in Afghanistan, Libya, and other countries.  

- Dr. Ayyildiz, can you tell us about the American Hospital Tbilisi Project?  

The American Hospital Tbilisi project is funded by the US Development Financial Corporation (DFC) and was designed to be a modern hospital, operating according to the international standard in Georgia. The project was established in cooperation with both the United States and Georgian governments, with a US government investment of 58 million dollars. The hospital is now a leading healthcare service provider in the region, employing over 800 people.  

We aim to be a distinctive healthcare hub in the region. The geographical location of Georgia gives it a strategic position for medical tourism, attracting neighboring countries such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Iran. In this regard, American Hospital Tbilisi is creating its own niche in the regional healthcare market.

- As a representative of the business sector and an employer, do you cooperate with sectoral organizations and educational institutions to enhance the professional development of nurses and bring their skills up to international standards?  

Yes, absolutely, we have extensive cooperation with such organizations, as our goal is to promote both professional and higher education, as well as sectoral development in Georgia. We are committed to supporting future nursing students. For this reason, we signed a partnership agreement with the Nursing Union, one of the leading organizations in this field.  

Through private-public partnership initiatives with the Skills Agency and regulatory agencies, we have successfully implemented—and continue to develop—projects focused on the continuous advancement of healthcare professionals and the implementation of regulatory frameworks for the nursing profession. American Hospital Tbilisi is actively involved in these ongoing activities and will continue to support the development of these systems at the national level.  

A major global challenge for businesses remains the development of human capital and filling the gaps in available resources. For ensuring the provision of high-quality medical services, nursing resources play a crucial role. Safe and reliable medical services are grounded in nursing practices.  

- American Hospital Tbilisi recently achieved Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation, considered a Gold Standard in healthcare accreditation. Can you tell us about that?  

Yes, and we express our gratitude to every single employee of our hospital because this achievement is the result of our collective effort! We have created history on a national level, and now we are beginning to make history on an international scale.  

The adoption of JCI Accreditation was made possible by the continuous hard work and professionalism of our team. This achievement is a testament to our commitment to providing high-quality, reliable, and safe medical services to the population we serve.  

Dr. NATALIA KALANDARISHVILI,  

Chief Quality Officer  

Our hospital has adopted the gold standard of international accreditation through Joint Commission International (JCI), which encompasses internationally recognized patient safety standards ensuring the provision of high-quality medical services, with a focus on Zero Harm strategies.  

The implementation of these international standards ensures the creation of safe operational strategies, including clinical and nursing operations, patient treatment and care practices, medication management rules, infection prevention and control interventions, quality measures, governance regulations, safety culture promotion, credentialing, and staff privileging, infrastructure safety, and data management standards.  

Nursing operations are a key component in implementing international accreditation standards. We have established unique nursing regulations, such as the nursing patient assessment process, which identifies and manages patient risks such as pain, falls, nutrition, religious and cultural considerations, suicide prevention, education, and discharge planning, all initiated during the admission stage.  

We have also implemented a Nursing Care Planning process, which includes planning and managing nursing interventions and patient monitoring using early warning scoring systems. This allows us to track patients’ conditions continuously using international evidence-based methodologies. Additionally, we have implemented patient handover rules to ensure continuity of care.  

Our hospital is eager to share the knowledge and system specifications we have adopted with other interested stakeholders. We need the support of educational systems to provide a new workforce equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge, minimizing efforts and resources required to build an efficient system.  

For ensuring the best patient outcomes, communication and collaboration between all stakeholders involved in patient care—including doctors, nurses, and lab and radiology professionals—are vital.  

Finally, I would like to emphasize the importance of adopting nursing regulations at the national level and integrating these regulations into operational processes.

IA GELENIDZE  

Founder and Executive Director of the N(N)LI Union of Nurses , Director of Nursing Services at American Hospital Tbilisi, Expert in Vocational Education Authorization and Accreditation , Member of the Professional Regulatory Council of Nursing and Obstetric Nurses from Occupied Territories of Georgia, Ministry of IDPs, Labor, Health and Social Protection, spoke to us about the unique structure of the American Hospital Nursing Service, the international standards implemented in the department, the internal corporate culture, and its distinctive patient care approach.  

Ia, can you tell us about the structure of the American Hospital Nursing Service and what makes it unique compared to other hospitals in Georgia?  

The American Hospital Nursing Service is organized with an innovative management structure. It operates independently, based on the International Council of Nursing (ICN) Code of Practice and World Health Organization Standards for Nursing Practice. The goal of our nursing service is to create innovative, safe, and patient-centered care services, offering comprehensive, high-quality, and value-based care to our citizens.  

I would like to congratulate each employee of American Hospital Tbilisi on our JCI accreditation—this achievement is a victory for us all!

We have implemented internal and external mandatory continuing education programs according to qualification levels, ensuring the mobilization of safe human capital and effective adaptation of personnel across clinical departments. We also assess human capital, quality of nursing activities (QPI), and nursing performance indicators (KPI). An optimal work schedule, adequate nurse-patient ratio, and continuous professional development are key principles in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of our nursing workforce.  

Since 2023, nursing has become a regulated profession in Georgia. In response to these changes and as part of our strategic plan, American Hospital Tbilisi continues and expands its cooperation with educational institutions to advance both professional and higher education strategies for the nursing field.  

Ia, what does your work mean to you? And can you describe the internal corporate culture of the Nursing Department?  

I am extremely proud to represent American Hospital Tbilisi as the Chief Nursing Officer. It is an honor to be part of the development of healthcare systems and to implement best practices at American Hospital Tbilisi. Our team is committed to creating the best workforce in nursing, integrating international standards into existing practices, and sharing our knowledge and expertise with other stakeholders. Being a part of this team allows us to provide innovative, high-quality, and safe care, while also offering opportunities for career development.  

Our internal corporate culture is grounded in ethical principles and autonomy. Nurses value patient preferences and involve both patients and their families in care decisions, all while respecting confidentiality and ensuring data security. These values shape our professional standards and our approach to patient care. Healthy collaboration between all stakeholders involved in patient care is central to our organizational management structure and operational standards.

Expansion Strategies for Nursing Services in the Near Future  

The First International Nursing Congress in Georgia!  

From November 30 – December 1, 2024, American Hospital Tbilisi, the Nursing Union, and Georgian National University will host the first International Congress on the Quality and Safety of Healthcare and Personal Services.  

The Congress will align with the slogan of the International Congress of Nurses (ICN): "The Power of Nurses to Change the World," with the 2025 ICN Congress slogan: "Let’s Join Forces to Unite the Power of Nurses, Build Professional Relationships, and Spread Nursing Knowledge Across the World!"  

The Congress will be held at Georgian National University, featuring both sessions and master classes. Clinical master classes will take place at American Hospital Tbilisi. This event will address challenges in the nursing profession, the implementation of field standards, and personalized healthcare strategies.  

These activities, such as international conferences, educational programs, and simulation-based training, are key to developing modern healthcare and personalized service delivery in Georgia, in line with internationally accepted standards.  

The event will be supported by regulatory institutions: the Ministry of IDPs, Labor, Health and Social Protection, LEPL Agency for Regulation of Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities, the Employment Agency of the Ministry of Healthcare, the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, Skills Agency, and the National Center for Education Quality Development.  

Sectoral associations, educational institutions, and international regulatory bodies will also participate. For the first time in Georgia, Georgian nurses will host international experts from the United States, Europe, and Asia.