(November 19, 2015) Ms. Waraporn Sakkato, Senior Project Director of the Healthcare Accreditation Institute (Public Organization), led a delegation of senior executives from the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka to visit Tha Ruea Hospital in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. They were welcomed by Dr. Wiwan Phongpattananon, Director of Tha Ruea Hospital, and staff.

The visit to Tha Ruea Hospital was part of a study tour and knowledge exchange program on hospital and health service quality accreditation in Thailand. The theme was "Thailand - Sri Lanka Collaboration on Healthcare Quality: A Study Visit to Private Hospital and Primary Care Accreditation." The delegation visited primary care facilities, focusing on primary care and a commitment to quality accreditation and continuous improvement in accordance with quality accreditation standards.

Dr. Wiwan stated, "Over the past 20 years, quality and safety have been developed under the vision of "Quality Community Hospitals," and are committed to driving strong healthcare service standards across the primary care network." Tha Ruea Hospital is a 30-bed community hospital serving a population of over 49,000 people. It has no specialists but receives strong support from public health networks and local agencies at both the sub-district and district levels. It began its quality development process in 2004. Although initially assessed, it failed to pass the HA Level 3 certification. With support from a quality mentor team, shared understanding, and the participation of all personnel, the hospital successfully achieved HA Level 3 certification in 2009. The hospital has since continued its development, sending staff to train with the Healthcare Accreditation Institute (HAI), expanding its efforts to include BHA, DHA, GSA, and network-level quality system assessments.

Dr. Wiwan added that, to drive standards toward the primary care network, Tha Ruea Hospital serves as a mentor to all sub-district health promoting hospitals (SorPor) in the area, imparting standardized service delivery guidelines, such as chronic patient care systems, infection prevention, medication and vaccination systems, discharge planning, and community continuity of care. This ensures that the entire Tha Ruea District health network meets the same standards. The 2025-2027 strategy focuses on four key areas across four dimensions: Smart Service – providing services that meet the needs of the public and service recipients; Good System – ensuring a safe environment and service system; Good People – developing the potential of personnel in all fields; and Smart Technology – utilizing technology and digital systems to reduce workloads and increase efficiency.

Tha Ruea District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, developed a primary health care system under the Tha Ruea CUP using the concept of "One Cup One Team." This system provides comprehensive care for approximately 50,000 people, focusing on chronic diseases (NCDs) and high-mortality diseases such as stroke and STEMI. The collaborative structure includes Tha Ruea Hospital, the Public Health Unit (PHCU), the District Health Office, the Village Health Volunteers (VHVs), and local networks. The system coordinates care across four zones, with nurses from each hospital serving as managers. Three key strategies are in place: identifying target disease groups and their prevention; designing interconnected systems and resources; and implementing a continuous care system (COC). This system ensures smooth, standardized, and continuous care for patients with chronic and complex diseases.

The success of Tha Ruea Hospital's quality development stems from the collaboration of leaders, personnel, and community networks. This includes support from the NHSO, which has helped the hospital stay on track with quality standards. We are also committed to continuing to develop standards and service systems to ensure that the people of Tha Ruea District receive the highest quality and safest services.