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Journal of Health Organization and... Aug 2021There is conflicting evidence concerning the impact of hospital accreditation programmes, including across the Middle East Region, where such programmes have been most... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
There is conflicting evidence concerning the impact of hospital accreditation programmes, including across the Middle East Region, where such programmes have been most recently implemented in Iran, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. This paper maps available evidence regarding the impact of hospital accreditation in these three countries and draws attention to knowledge gaps for consideration.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH
This scoping review was conducted in 2020, using the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Five research databases were searched, along with five government and accreditation agency websites. Searches were complemented by citation chaining. English and Arabic publications evaluating hospital accreditation in the selected countries were included. Commentaries and articles not based on primary data collection and reviews of existing registry data were excluded. There were no exclusions based on study design or methods. A descriptive numerical summary and thematic analysis were used to synthesise the literature.
FINDINGS
studies were included. The majority ( = 35) were published since 2014 and conducted in Saudi Arabia ( = 16). Four themes emerged: organisational impacts, patient safety, quality of care, and patient satisfaction and experience. The literature generally highlights positive impacts of accreditation, but most studies were based solely on health professionals' subjective perceptions. "Organisational impacts" had the largest, and strongest body of supporting evidence, while "patient safety" had the least and most variable evidence.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE
Opportunities to strengthen the design and evaluation of hospital accreditation programmes in the selected countries are highlighted. Additional experimental, mixed-method research is recommended to strengthen the evidence base and inform practical enhancements to hospital accreditation programmes in the region.
Topics: Accreditation; Health Personnel; Hospitals; Humans; Middle East; Patient Safety
PubMed: 34390550
DOI: 10.1108/JHOM-04-2021-0159 -
Human Resources For Health Jan 2022The Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society (PPS) implemented a system of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for pharmacists in 2004. This system has evolved throughout... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society (PPS) implemented a system of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for pharmacists in 2004. This system has evolved throughout the years, and currently all active pharmacists in Portugal are required to participate in the CPD program. Each CPD cycle takes 5 years. In each cycle, pharmacists must collect 15 CPD points, through participation in educational activities. The PPS accreditation process is managed via an online platform, where education/training providers, as well as pharmacists themselves, can submit educational activities for accreditation. Pharmacists may access their CPD status and assess their development at any point. The objective of this study was to analyze and review the educational activities submitted by providers over a 11-year period (2009-2019).
METHODS
Data from activities were retrieved from the PPS CPD online platform. All educational activities were labeled according to the area of pharmaceutical professional focus, type of promoter, and activity type.
RESULTS
During the study 3685 activities were analyzed. Over the last decade, submitted activities for accreditation increased in 52.6%. A significantly high proportion (98.9%) of these activities has been accredited. Promoters of activities were mostly pharmacies sectoral associations (29.6%), consultancy/training companies (19.6%), the PPS (18.5%), pharmaceutical industry (17.7%) and wholesalers' consortia (9.0%). Academia represented only 2.3% of the total amount of educational activities. The most frequent topics were related to "pharmacology & pharmacotherapy" (9.9%), followed by "counselling" (9.8%) and "management & administration" (7.2%). The most accredited type of activities was face-to-face (68.9%) and e-learning trainings (13.1%).
CONCLUSIONS
This study shows increasing interest in submitting CPD activities for accreditation between 2009 and 2019, but it also demonstrates that Academia could play a more interventive role in the lifelong learning education of Portuguese pharmacists.
Topics: Accreditation; Education, Pharmacy, Continuing; Humans; Pharmacies; Pharmacists; Pharmacy
PubMed: 34991616
DOI: 10.1186/s12960-021-00700-1 -
Family Medicine Feb 2023In 2020 the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) became the sole accrediting body for osteopathic and allopathic residency programs, with an...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
In 2020 the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) became the sole accrediting body for osteopathic and allopathic residency programs, with an option for programs to apply for Osteopathic Recognition (OR) to distinguish their training in osteopathic principles and practice. There is limited research regarding this transition. The goal of our study was to assess the perceived value of OR and perceived difficulty of obtaining OR for family medicine residency programs.
METHODS
We performed analyses regarding the difficulty of obtaining OR status and the value of OR and Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) using questions on the 2020 Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) omnibus survey.
RESULTS
Of the 280 program directors (PD) responding, 69 (24.6%) had OR status, 126 (45.0%) were considering applying or would apply if needed resources were available, and 85 (30.4%) were not considering OR. Of the 73 PDs reporting on experience with the OR process, 28 (38.4%) found it "very smooth," 30 (41.1%) found it "a little bumpy," and 15 (20.5%) found it "very bumpy"; 87.0% of PDs (60 of 69) with OR felt it had value in recruiting DO students and 31.8% (22/69) in recruiting MD students; 86.9% of programs with OR status perceived OPP to be somewhat or very valuable in enhancing patient satisfaction compared to 77% of those considering OR and 44.7% not considering OR.
CONCLUSIONS
Program directors perceive value in OR status for recruiting and in osteopathic practice for patient care. Since 75.4% of responding program directors have or are interested in achieving OR status, further research is needed on its benefits and barriers.
Topics: Humans; United States; Osteopathic Medicine; Osteopathic Physicians; Internship and Residency; Education, Medical, Graduate; Surveys and Questionnaires; Accreditation
PubMed: 36787518
DOI: 10.22454/FamMed.2023.853908 -
Health Policy and Planning Jul 2020Hospital accreditation has been transferred from high-income countries (HICs) to many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), supported by a variety of advocates and... (Review)
Review
Hospital accreditation has been transferred from high-income countries (HICs) to many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), supported by a variety of advocates and donor agencies. This review uses a policy transfer theoretical framework to present a structured analysis of the development of hospital accreditation in LMICs. The framework is used to identify how governments in LMICs adopted accreditation from other settings and what mechanisms facilitated and hindered the transfer of accreditation. The review examines the interaction between national and international actors, and how international organizations influenced accreditation policy transfer. Relevant literature was found by searching databases and selected websites; 78 articles were included in the analysis process. The review concludes that accreditation is increasingly used as a tool to improve the quality of healthcare in LMICs. Many countries have established national hospital accreditation programmes and adapted them to fit their national contexts. However, the implementation and sustainability of these programmes are major challenges if resources are scarce. International actors have a substantial influence on the development of accreditation in LMICs, as sources of expertise and pump-priming funding. There is a need to provide a roadmap for the successful development and implementation of accreditation programmes in low-resource settings. Analysing accreditation policy processes could provide contextually sensitive lessons for LMICs seeking to develop and sustain their national accreditation programmes and for international organizations to exploit their role in supporting the development of accreditation in LMICs.
Topics: Accreditation; Developing Countries; Hospitals; Policy Making; Quality Improvement; Quality of Health Care
PubMed: 32268354
DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czaa011 -
Obesity Reviews : An Official Journal... Apr 2023Healthy food outlet accreditation schemes represent an avenue for incentivizing food retailers to promote healthy eating patterns by improving the healthiness of food... (Review)
Review
Healthy food outlet accreditation schemes represent an avenue for incentivizing food retailers to promote healthy eating patterns by improving the healthiness of food environments. This systematic review aimed to (i) assess the impact of food outlet-level accreditation schemes on outlet practices and customer purchases and (ii) identify barriers and enablers to scheme implementation. Peer-reviewed and grey literature were systematically searched. Eligible studies related to outlet-level food and beverage accreditation schemes across any food retail setting. Findings were narratively synthesized by retailer type according to (i) scheme characteristics (governance, targeted products, support, and monitoring); (ii) scheme outcomes (rate of uptake, proportion of certified retailers, impact on purchasing, customer perspectives, and retailer perspectives); and (iii) barriers and enablers to implementation. From 21,943 records screened, 48 were included, covering 26 schemes. Most (18) targeted restaurants or convenience stores. Average uptake was 65% of all outlets approached to participate. Implementation of accreditation schemes was associated with healthier customer purchases in convenience stores, schools, and hospitals, but evidence from restaurants was mixed. Enablers of scheme implementation included support for implementation and maintenance, flexible scheme criteria, and motivated retail staff. Healthy food outlet accreditation schemes represent a promising mechanism for engaging retailers to improve the healthiness of food retail environments.
Topics: Humans; Food Supply; Food; Beverages; Diet, Healthy; Accreditation; Commerce
PubMed: 36756666
DOI: 10.1111/obr.13556 -
Inquiry : a Journal of Medical Care... 2021This study examined the factors associated with better accreditation outcomes among nursing homes.
OBJECTIVES
This study examined the factors associated with better accreditation outcomes among nursing homes.
METHOD
A total of 538 nursing homes in Taiwan were included in this study. Measures included accreditation scores, external factors (household income, Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, old-age dependency ratio, population density, and number of older adult households), organizational factors (hospital-based status, chain-affiliated status, occupancy rate, the number of registered nurses or nurse aides per bed, and bed size), and internal factors (accountability, deficiencies, person-centered care, nursing skills, quality control, and integrated care).
RESULTS
Bed size, hospital-based status, accountability, deficiencies, person-centered care, nursing skills, quality control, and integrated care were found to predict accreditation.
CONCLUSION
Among all variables in this study, the quality indicators contributed to the most variation, followed by organizational factors. External environmental factors played a minor role in predicting accreditation. A focus on quality of care would benefit not only the residents of a nursing home but also facilitate its accreditation.
Topics: Accreditation; Aged; Hospitals; Humans; Nursing Homes; Skilled Nursing Facilities; Taiwan
PubMed: 34812691
DOI: 10.1177/00469580211059998 -
Family Medicine Jul 2021Family physicians have the privilege of caring for patients throughout their lifespan and witness the impact all facets of life have on the health of individuals and the...
Family physicians have the privilege of caring for patients throughout their lifespan and witness the impact all facets of life have on the health of individuals and the health of communities. The importance of engaging the community in the success of population-based initiatives to drive social change has been proven repeatedly and family medicine residencies should include community as the fifth "C." At a minimum, this includes incorporating the following three recommendations: (1) define community on initial accreditation, at self-study, and whenever major community changes occur; (2) utilize a community needs assessment as part of goal setting of activities with Annual Action Plan; and (3) evaluate residents and faculty on understanding of and cooperation with community needs. We must highlight engagement with the community as a central aspect of family medicine so that all programs focus on this important aspect of our work.
Topics: Accreditation; Family Practice; Humans; Internship and Residency
PubMed: 34289499
DOI: 10.22454/FamMed.2021.503235 -
Journal of Educational Evaluation For... 2020The accreditation process is both an opportunity and a burden for medical schools in Korea. The line that separates the two is based on how medical schools recognize and... (Review)
Review
The accreditation process is both an opportunity and a burden for medical schools in Korea. The line that separates the two is based on how medical schools recognize and utilize the accreditation process. In other words, accreditation is a burden for medical schools if they view the accreditation process as merely a formal procedure or a means to maintain accreditation status for medical education. However, if medical schools acknowledge the positive value of the accreditation process, accreditation can be both an opportunity and a tool for developing medical education. The accreditation process has educational value by catalyzing improvements in the quality, equity, and efficiency of medical education and by increasing the available options. For the accreditation process to contribute to medical education development, accrediting agencies and medical schools must first be recognized as partners of an educational alliance working together towards common goals. Secondly, clear guidelines on accreditation standards should be periodically reviewed and shared. Finally, a formative self-evaluation process must be introduced for institutions to utilize the accreditation process as an opportunity to develop medical education. This evaluation system could be developed through collaboration among medical schools, academic societies for medical education, and the accrediting authority.
Topics: Accreditation; Education, Medical; Humans; Republic of Korea; Schools, Medical
PubMed: 33085998
DOI: 10.3352/jeehp.2020.17.31 -
BMC Medical Education Mar 2024We have recently published the experience of the accreditation body of undergraduate medical education in Iran on developing and validating standards based on the WFME...
We have recently published the experience of the accreditation body of undergraduate medical education in Iran on developing and validating standards based on the WFME framework (Gandomkar et al., BMC Med Educ 23:379, 2023). Agabagheri et al. extended our work and proposed a blueprint for post-accreditation monitoring based on their experience in developing an official guide in their Matters Arising (Aghabagheri et al., BMC Med Educ). The authors have used post-accreditation monitoring as a process of monitoring and controlling accreditation activities, procedures often referred to as meta-evaluation or meta-accreditation (depending on the objectives of evaluation) in the literature. On the contrary, post-accreditation monitoring alludes to the process of continuous quality improvement of educational programs after accreditation. We would like to make clarifications between post-accreditation monitoring, meta-evaluation and meta-accreditation which have been used interchangeably in their paper. Considering the emerging interests in scholarship and non-scholarship activities and reports in undergraduate medical education accreditation, this clarification provides a better understanding of the roles of these crucial concepts in the accreditation process.
Topics: Humans; Curriculum; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Education, Medical; Accreditation; Schools, Medical
PubMed: 38454500
DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05214-7 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023The AfIHQSA Model is the model for building quality resilient health systems. It is proposed as a compliment to and in many instances as an alternative to the many other...
The AfIHQSA Model is the model for building quality resilient health systems. It is proposed as a compliment to and in many instances as an alternative to the many other existing in ensuring a systematic and a sustained approach to improving outcomes in African health systems. It seeks to bring the necessary transformation to healthcare quality and patient safety and facilitate the attainment of desired outcomes. The model is unique in its iterative nature and how it places premium on sustaining the gains of improvement. The authors are concerned about the lack of sustainability of the many quality improvement efforts on the continent and how they all fade out into obscurity upon the exit of the proponents. Six iterative steps are proposed in the use of the model and these are: leadership commitment and buy-in; situational analysis of quality management capacity; systems strengthening for quality management; quality improvement interventions for care outcomes; standardization/accreditation/certification; and iterative monitoring, evaluation of performance of interventions and learning. Most of the quality interventions and efforts on the continent have failed because the steps in this model have not been sufficiently followed and addressed. The required strengthening of the various components of the health system necessary to sufficiently bear the weight of any quality intervention and guarantee sustainability of the gains is often ignored. As authors, we have therefore formally adopted the use of this model and plan to further continue evaluating and monitoring its utility and its generalizability in different institutions and countries.
Topics: Humans; Accreditation; Quality of Health Care; Certification; Health Facilities; Quality Improvement
PubMed: 38106891
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1269330