Full document - International Hospital Federation

IHF reference
The International
Hospital Federation
Our vision is a world of healthy communities served by well
managed hospitals and health services where all individuals
reach their highest potential for health
Origins and aims
The International Hospital Federation (IHF), successor to the
International Hospital Association, established in 1929 after the first
International Hospital Congress in Atlantic City, USA, was revived
under its new title — International Hospital Federation (IHF) — in
1947. We are an international non-governmental organisation,
supported by members from over 100 countries. As the worldwide
body for hospitals and healthcare organizations we seek to develop
and maintain a spirit of cooperation and communication among
them, with the primary purpose of improving patient safety and
promoting health in underserved communities.
Mission, vision and activities
Our vision is to become a world leader in facilitating the exchange
of knowledge and experience in health sector management, with
our main goals being:
✚ To improve patient care quality around the globe, through the
dissemination of evidence-based information.
✚ To collect, collate, publish and facilitate the exchange of
information and ideas on best practice in hospital and
healthcare management.
✚ To assist in the creation of environments that support
organisations in the promotion and delivery of healthcare.
✚ To foster international partnerships that promote interaction
among public and private hospitals and healthcare
organisations, the community and commercial entities.
✚ To promote and protect the dignity, safety and welfare of
patients.
This vision is promoted through events, publications, networking
and projects in line with our mission and values. These activities
prioritize information on leadership and management of hospitals
and health services.
The IHF is driven by its founding ethos that it is the right of every
human being irrespective of geographical, economic, ethnic or
social condition to enjoy the best standard in quantity and quality
of health and access to hospital and health care services. By
promoting this value, IHF supports the improvement of the health of
society. The provision of health and health care to all people,
recognizes and accepts current best practice in medical standards
and patient care as well as the ethical behaviour and standards of
integrity required to govern, lead and manage health-care
organizations.
Membership and communications
Through our membership and communications activities we seek
to act as a bridge between members in order to facilitate and
support cross-fertilization of knowledge and experience in
management and leadership of health organizations. Through
these activities, we also support the creation of new national
hospital associations. Establishing strong and permanent
communication between the IHF Secretariat and members is a
priority goal.
IHF offers three categories of membership:
✚ Full Membership is open to any association or organizational
body deemed representative of the national healthcare
organizations, in particular but not exclusively hospitals, in a
country, a polity or a circumscribed region of the world.
✚ Associate Membership is open to healthcare organizations,
in particular but not exclusively hospitals, and other institutions
having a distinct relationship with the provision of healthcare,
who are not eligible for Full Membership.
✚ Honorary Membership is awarded to persons or
organizations who have rendered exceptional services to the
IHF.
132 Hospital and Healthcare Innovation Book 2009/2010