King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital–Riyadh (KASCH–Riyadh), part of the Health Affairs of the National Guard, has achieved a significant international milestone by becoming the first children’s hospital outside North America to receive accreditation from the ChildKind Organization, following a comprehensive on-site evaluation.
This achievement places KASCH–Riyadh among a select group of only 23 hospitals worldwide recognized for establishing a comprehensive, institution-wide approach to the assessment and management of pediatric pain, in accordance with internationally accepted, evidence-based clinical standards.
As part of the accreditation journey, a multidisciplinary Pain Management Committee was established under the leadership of the Pediatric Anesthesia Department. The committee brought together all relevant clinical and support departments to unify practices and govern pediatric pain management through a standardized organizational framework. These efforts led to improved efficiency in managing pain in children, the introduction of new treatment protocols, and more effective resolution of related challenges.
Hospital leadership played a key role in achieving this milestone by providing continuous support and ensuring the availability of required resources, which enabled the timely fulfillment of accreditation requirements.
While the ChildKind accreditation marks an important achievement, it represents only one step in the hospital’s ongoing commitment to excellence in pediatric pain management. The Pain Management Committee will continue its work beyond accreditation, focusing on continuous improvement and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care for children.