Choosing an accreditation organisation
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, where patient safety and quality of care reign supreme, accreditation stands as a beacon of excellence. It’s more than just a stamp of approval; it’s a rigorous journey that demands unwavering commitment from every corner of a healthcare institution.
Newera, A et al’s recently published guide serves as a roadmap, for health and social care organisations interested in or commencing an accreditation process. It addresses the key steps in the process from selecting the right accrediting organisation or partner to achieving sustained success.
The guide outlines several key factors to be considered by health or social care organisations when selecting an accreditation body including:
- The legal and regulatory landscape. National laws in some countries may mandate specific accrediting bodies to accredit certain types of healthcare institutions. If no such mandates exist, it is crucial to check if an accrediting organisation is authorised to operate within the country and is recognised by the relevant national authorities.
- The institution’s governance structure. The health or social care organisation’s governing body may have specific preferences or directives regarding accreditation, particularly with respect to international accreditations. These preferences must be carefully considered when selecting an accreditation body.
- Financial considerations. The fees associated with obtaining an initial accreditation, reaccreditation, and the associated preparation processes can vary significantly between accrediting bodies. Therefore, it is important that an evaluation of the financial costs is undertaken to include not just the initial accreditation process but the subsequent reaccreditation and preparation processes. It is also crucial to assess the potential impact of accreditation on reimbursement rates from payers and insurers.
- Scope of accreditation. The selected accrediting body should provide accreditation programmes that cover the full range of services offered by the health or social care institution, including hospitals, ambulatory care, and specialised services.
- Fit in terms of mission, values and philosophy. An institution must review if the chosen accrediting body aligns with its own mission, values, and philosophy. This alignment ensures that the accreditation process supports the institution’s core principles and enhances its overall quality of care.
The full guide can be accessed HERE
A further consideration in selecting an accrediting body is checking if the accrediting organisation itself has been accredited by an appropriate third-party external evaluation organisation such as ISQua EEA. ISQua EEA awards provide a valuable assurance that an accreditation is based on sound, evidence-based best practices. Health or social care institutions can readily identify ISQua EEA accredited accreditation bodies by looking for the ISQua EEA organisational accreditation logo or seal on the organisation’s website. The presence of this logo or award on the organisation’s website indicates that they meet accepted standards for accreditation
A list of currently accredited external evaluation organisations is also available on ISQua EEA’s website and you can also check here to see if a specific accrediting body is accredited by ISQua EEA: Awards – ISQua EEA
