King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Jeddah has received the 2026 Global Patient Safety Award from Joint Commission International (JCI) in the Healthcare Organization category. The award, presented for the first time, recognizes the hospital’s STEP protocol for assessing safe patient transport during high-risk care transitions, developed by its ambulance services.
KFSHRC Jeddah was one of only three winners in the category worldwide, selected from more than 250 submissions by healthcare organizations and national health authorities in 32 countries.
The protocol was developed after the ambulance services team observed that some patients returned to the emergency department within seven days of being transferred or discharged. Reasons included incomplete treatment, a deterioration in the patient’s condition that was not detected after a discharge order had been issued, or test results that had not been incorporated into the treatment plan. STEP helped reduce the seven-day emergency-department return rate from 24% to 9%.
Rather than treating transport as a logistical task, the hospital redesigned it as a final safeguard for patient safety. For each transport request, a paramedic reviews the patient’s electronic medical record and conducts an independent clinical assessment. He also checks handover notes and diagnostic tests, and considers observations from caregivers and family members immediately before transport.
Hanadi Al-Salmi, director of ancillary medical services at KFSHRC Jeddah, said the award reflects the hospital’s commitment to improving patient safety at every stage of care. This includes transfers between medical units, by strengthening coordination and communication among the teams involved.
Moreover, the award recognizes healthcare organizations outside the United States that demonstrate excellence in advancing safer, higher-quality care. An international panel of patient-safety experts assesses submissions based on innovation, effectiveness, scalability, sustainability and potential for adoption by other institutions—criteria the STEP protocol was designed to meet.
KFSHRC Showcases Long List of Awards
In 2026, KFSHRC was ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 12th worldwide among the world’s top 250 academic healthcare institutions. Brand Finance also named it the most valuable healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The hospital was also included in Newsweek’s 2026 rankings of the World’s Best Hospitals, World’s Best Smart Hospitals and World’s Best Specialized Hospitals.
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