CBAHI Focus Areas and Smart Solutions for Saudi Healthcare Excellence
Under the rigorous monitoring of the Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutes (CBAHI), Saudi Arabia is transforming healthcare standards across all medical institutions. This evolution ensures alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, driving unprecedented quality improvements in patient care and facility management.
In this article, we explore key CBAHI accreditation standards and demonstrate how Penguin’s innovative technology solutions help healthcare facilities not only achieve compliance but excel in service quality and operational efficiency.

Executive Leadership: Technology-Driven Decision Making
Key Performance Indicators for Healthcare Executives
CBAHI has identified critical focus areas for executive leadership:
- Supply Chain Excellence: Ensuring seamless provision of medicines, equipment, and medical supplies throughout the facility
- Quality Collaboration: Working across all departments to elevate care standards and operational protocols
- Facility Infrastructure: Continuous monitoring and evaluation of building conditions and maintenance needs
- Resource Optimization: Minimizing waste of valuable medical resources and supplies
The Power of Real-Time Data
Modern technology empowers executives through automated monitoring and intelligent reporting across all facility operations. Access to real-time data enables faster, more informed decision-making on critical metrics including:
- Asset utilization rates
- Staff attendance compliance
- Facility maintenance schedules
- Practitioner response times
Penguin’s comprehensive platform provides executives with the tools needed to build ROI-driven strategies based on actionable insights and accurate data.

Infection Control: Revolutionizing Hand Hygiene Compliance
CBAHI’s Enhanced Requirements
The ESR CBAHI standards place renewed emphasis on infection prevention through stringent hand hygiene protocols:
- Governance Structure: Establishment of a multidisciplinary committee providing oversight of infection prevention and control programs
- Standardized Procedures: Implementation of comprehensive sterilization, disinfection, and hand cleaning compliance protocols
- Resource Management: Proper use and adequate provision of infection prevention equipment and supplies
Beyond Compliance: Measurable Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene has rightfully become the cornerstone of any effective infection control program. As Dr. Mohammed Smadi, CEO of Penguin, notes:
“A key use case that has tangible ROI is hand hygiene compliance. Being able to know who went where and when are keys to ensuring that compliance rules are adhered to.”
Dr Mohammed Smadi, CEO of Penguin.
Smart Solutions for Existing Infrastructure
Through dedicated research and strategic partnerships, Penguin has developed cost-effective retrofit solutions that upgrade existing dispensers with advanced compliance tracking capabilities. Benefits include:
- Individual and ward-level compliance monitoring
- Automated dispenser replenishment workflows
- Real-time utilization tracking and reporting
- Seamless integration with existing infrastructure

Patient Experience and Safety: A Technology-Enhanced Approach
The Foundation of Patient-Centric Care
Patient centricity stands as a fundamental pillar of CBAHI accreditation, with safety and experience as primary drivers. CBAHI standards emphasize:
- Verification Protocols: Processes to prevent wrong patient, wrong site, and wrong procedure incidents
- Identity Assurance: Systems ensuring correct patient identification at all touchpoints
Real-Time Tracking for Enhanced Safety
Penguin’s intelligent tracking solutions add crucial layers of compliance and traceability, significantly reducing unintentional errors. Our platform enables:
- Real-time patient and staff location tracking
- Schedule adherence monitoring
- Physical area access verification
- Complete audit trails for historical review and analysis
Digital Wayfinding: Reducing Errors and Improving Experience
To minimize medical errors, ESR CBAHI mandates clear navigation systems including accessible wayfinding for authorized staff and prominent information points at facility entrances.
Penguin’s Digital Wayfinding Solution offers:
- Customizable multilingual directory listings
- Easy content updates and modifications
- Targeted infotainment messaging for patients and departments
- Significant reduction in missed appointments
- Integration with patient reminder systems
- Measurably improved patient satisfaction scores

Medical Asset Management: Complete Supply Chain Visibility
CBAHI’s Comprehensive Asset Requirements
Healthcare facility management must ensure:
- Timely provision of all medical supplies
- Storage according to manufacturer specifications and optimal conditions
- Regular inspection procedures and quality checks
- Protection of supplies from theft, damage, or unauthorized access
- Proper disposal of damaged and expired materials
- Systematic reduction of resource waste
PenTrack: Intelligent Asset Intelligence
Effective medical asset tracking and management are essential for patient safety, cost reduction, regulatory compliance, and enhanced care quality. Penguin’s “PenTrack” family of products delivers:
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- Precision Location: Pin-point asset positioning throughout your facility
- Proximity Awareness: Real-time tracking of equipment and supplies
- AI-Powered Analytics: Advanced indoor analytics with intelligent data interpretation
- Business Rules Engine: Automated actions triggered by specific conditions
- Proactive Alerts: Instant notifications for critical asset events

Dental Clinic Standards: Specialized Safety Solutions
Critical Requirements for Dental Facilities
CBAHI dental clinic standards mandate:
- Active staff health and safety programs
- Immediate and consistent sanitation for healthcare providers and equipment
Comprehensive Protection Solutions
Penguin’s specialized solutions address these requirements with:
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- Duress Call Systems: Immediate emergency response for medical staff safety and security
- Equipment Tracking: Real-time monitoring of dental instruments and machinery
- Easy Deployment: Utilization of existing Wi-Fi infrastructure or simple on-premises BLE/Bluetooth solutions
- Top-Rated Performance: Proven implementation success across multiple facilities

Operational Readiness: Advanced Tracking Systems
Critical Monitoring Capabilities
Modern healthcare facilities require sophisticated tracking systems for:
- Neonatal Security: Protection against infant abduction with real-time monitoring
- Sterilization Verification: Complete tracking of medical equipment sterilization cycles
- Nurse Safety and Efficiency: Support for nurse calling systems and staff security protocols
- Equipment Management: Monitoring dwell times in dirty and clean utility rooms
- Maintenance Scheduling: Facility manager tools for tracking and scheduling preventive maintenance
Penguin’s Commitment to Healthcare Excellence
These are transformative times for healthcare technology. Penguin is proud to partner with healthcare providers throughout Saudi Arabia, delivering innovative solutions that address today’s most pressing challenges while preparing facilities for tomorrow’s opportunities.
About Penguin Location Services
Penguin is a leading indoor positioning and IoT solutions provider, headquartered in Irvine, California, with a regional office in Dubai. The company creates digital parallels for physical spaces, optimizing day-to-day processes and creating unique experiences for visitors and operators.
Penguin leverages all available radio and sensor information to provide state-of-the-art indoor positioning technology that builds ROI-driven use cases. Our solutions have proven successful in some of the world’s most challenging and demanding healthcare environments.
About CBAHI
The Saudi Central Board for Accreditation of Healthcare Institutions (CBAHI) is the official agency authorized to grant accreditation certificates to all governmental and private healthcare facilities operating in Saudi Arabia.
Established by the Saudi Health Council as a non-profit organization, CBAHI’s Essential Safety Requirements (ESR) set the healthcare quality and patient safety standards against which all healthcare facilities are evaluated for compliance evidence.
References
- QM.18, ESR Book, National Essential Safety Requirements by CBAHI
- QM.17, ESR Book, National Essential Safety Requirements by CBAHI
- IPC.4, ESR Book, National Essential Safety Requirements by CBAHI
- CBAHI Official Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/Cbahi_SA