Public release date: 11-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Natalia Bolotina nboloti1@jhmi.edu 928-266-6318 Johns Hopkins Medicine

World-class standards for clinical outcomes and patient safety are at the core of a landmark affiliation agreement signed today between Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) and Pacfico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud (Pacfico Salud), a Lima, Peru-based subsidiary of Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE: BAP).

The collaboration focuses on a network of Peruvian hospitals, an oncology clinic, clinical and pathology laboratories, and outpatient centers that have recently been acquired by Pacfico Salud.

"This important endeavor is designed to raise the quality of health care services across a vast and committed corps of caregivers," says Steven J. Thompson, chief executive officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine International. "We believe that it will have significant long-term impact on Peruvian health care and are pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with our colleagues at Pacfico Salud, and to share our innovations and best practices with health care providers in this dynamic country and beyond."

Under the terms of the agreement, which was signed in Baltimore, USA, the two organizations will focus on health system strengthening through patient safety and operational and service efficiencies. Johns Hopkins experts will work together with their Peruvian colleagues in the development of clinical and patient services programs, infection control initiatives, and quality improvement processes. The affiliation will also focus on elevating nursing and introducing innovative care concepts.

The new collaboration also aims to create an enhanced infrastructure for the delivery of patient care. At the same time, it provides a viable platform from which to launch a number of public health-focused programs related to the prevention and early detection of non-communicable diseases.

Accreditation of the network hospitals, outpatient and laboratories will be another primary goal. Currently, there are no Joint Commission International-accredited hospitals in a nation with more than 30 million citizens.

"We are very proud to have signed this agreement. It represents a turning point in the history of Peruvian health care, allowing us to be one of the driving forces of its improvement," says Guillermo Garrido Lecca, general manager of Pacfico Salud. "Through our continued collaboration and knowledge transfer initiatives with a world leader in academic medicine, we aim to become the model for local and international health care institutions."

The affiliation agreement with Johns Hopkins Medicine International is the first of its kind in Peru, one of Latin America's fastest growing economies. It also represents a major step forward for Pacfico Salud as it advances its leadership role in the Peruvian private health care realm.

Originally posted here:

Johns Hopkins Medicine expands reach in Latin America