Iran Hospital Accreditation Governance: Challenges and Solutions



Mosadeghrad AM¹ ; Ghazanfari F² Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Payavard Salamat Published:2020

Abstract

Background and Aim: Hospital accreditation isthe systematic evaluation process and accreditation determination of a hospital by an independent external organization using the optimal structure, process and outcome standards. Accreditation plays an important role in improving the quality and safety of hospital services. The Iranian hospital accreditation program faces some challenges. The aim of this study was to identify the governance challenges of the Iranian hospital accreditation program and to provide suggestions for its improvement. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study of interpretive phenomenology was conducted in 2019 using semi-structured interviews with 151 policy makers, managers, and employees of the ministry of health, medical universities, health insurance organizations and hospitals. Thematic analysis method was used for data analysis. Results: In total, 22 governance challenges of the hospital accreditation program were identified and classified into seven groups, i.e., organizational structure, organizational communication, policy making, planning, financing, stewardship and evalutation. Lack of independence of accreditation program, inappropriate organizational structure, lack of resource, rapid transfer of accreditation managers, poor coordination and communication inside and outside the organization, government and mandatory accreditation program, poor planning, lack of high cost of hospital accreditation program are among the governance challenges of the country’s hospital accreditation program. Establishing an accreditation council with four independent scientific, accreditation, appeal and performance evaluation committees, piloting the accreditation program, proper planning, cascade education and training, allocating a specific budget for hospital accreditation, getting the approval of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare(ISQua) and public announcement of accreditation results are among the proposed solutions to these problems. Conclusion: Iran’s hospital accreditation program faces challenges and problems in terms of governance. Improving the governance structure of Iran’s hospital accreditation program can lead to desirable results and achievement of accreditation goals. © 2020, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.