KFSH Jeddah Wins JCI Global Patient Safety Award
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH) in Jeddah has won the Global Patient Safety Award in the Healthcare Organization category from Joint Commission International (JCI) for 2026, the award's inaugural year, in recognition of the Safe Transport Evaluation Protocol (STEP) for high-risk care transitions, developed by the hospital's Ambulance Services.
KFSH Jeddah was selected from more than 250 submissions by healthcare organizations and national health authorities across 32 countries, making it one of only three winners worldwide in this category.
The protocol grew out of a pattern the Ambulance Services team observed in the field. A number of patients were returning to the Emergency Department within seven days of transfer or discharge, because of incomplete treatment, a deterioration not detected after the discharge order, or test results not included in their treatment plans. The protocol has since reduced seven-day returns to the Emergency Department from 24% to 9%.
Rather than treating transport as a logistical step, the hospital redesigned it as the last line of defense for patient safety. With every transport request, the paramedic reviews the patient's electronic medical record, performs an independent clinical assessment, examines handover notes and diagnostic results, and takes into account input from companions and family members immediately before the move.
Director of Allied Medical Services Hanadi Al Salmi explained that the award reflects KFSH’s commitment to enhancing patient safety at every stage of care, including patient transfers between medical units, by improving coordination and communication among the teams involved.
The award is given to healthcare organizations outside the United States that demonstrate excellence in advancing safer, higher-quality care. Submissions are evaluated by an international panel of patient safety experts against criteria including innovation, effectiveness, scalability, sustainability, and transferability to other organizations, a criterion STEP was designed to meet.
KFSH has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 12th globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers for 2026. It was also recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East by Brand Finance in 2026 and listed by Newsweek among the World’s Best Hospitals 2026, World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026, and World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.
