Acibadem Healthcare Group, based in Istanbul, is a private hospital group operating six hospitals, three outpatient clinics, a central laboratory, a specialized medical center, a patient call center, and a health and life insurance company. In 2003 it began a collaboration with Partners Harvard Medical International that has focused on the development of numerous high-quality programs across multiple areas of hospital operations, organizational development and education, and clinical staff development.

Turkey’s private health care sector has seen tremendous growth since the 1980s. Acibadem started in 1991 with a 50-bed hospital and second-hand equipment. Since then the organization has been focused on developing new facilities and improving existing hospitals in order to become a leading health care network in Turkey. Its rapid growth has challenged the organization to develop key strategies around organization and staff development, clinical program development and training, and quality and performance improvement.


PHMI’s work with Acibadem has focused on the development of high-quality programs aimed at organizational and staff development. Highlights of the collaboration include: 

  • Numerous medical education programs and symposia designed to advance knowledge and practice at Acibadem and in the greater Istanbul community. Program topics have included oncology, neurology, orthopedic surgery, and the development of multidisciplinary medical services.
  • Clinical program input and training for a new multidisciplinary oncology and neuroscience center
  • An extensive nursing leadership initiative designed to improve staff retention
  • Professional development programs to improve health care quality and patient safety
  • Administrative education programs in the areas of hospital operations, human resources development, and pharmacy operations

  • In 2004 Acibadem’s new multidisciplinary cancer unit was made operational and saw its first patients.
  • The PHMI-Acibadem nursing leadership initiative resulted in a dramatic improvement in nurse retention, with nurse turnover dropping from 33 percent to 16 percent.
  • In 2005, the Acibadem network was accredited by Joint Commission International, a testament to the organization’s commitment to excellence.