Frequently asked questions - FAQ

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Frequently asked questions - FAQ

  • What are the benefits of becoming accredited or certified?
  • Which institutions can be accredited or certified?
  • What is the difference between accreditation and certification?
  • Where do the standards that need to be met and implemented come from?
  • How are the visits conducted?
  • Who are the listeners?
  • Combien de temps dure le processus d’évaluation ?
  • How long is the accreditation/certification valid?
  • A quoi correspondent les 4 niveaux d’accréditation/certification ?
  • Que comprend le coût de la procédure d’accréditation/certification ?

 

1- What are the benefits of becoming accredited or certified?

As shown by an independent international study of already-accredited establishments, the accreditation process has resulted in the following benefits :

  • 98% of the clinics/hospitals found that accreditation had raised their reputation, leading to an increase in the number of clients for most of them.
  • 74% of clinics/hospitals found that patients benefited directly from accreditation
  • The same percentage of facilities report that staff and teams have benefited directly from accreditation.
  • 83% of clinics/hospitals report that quality of care has been directly positively impacted by accreditation.
  • 90% of clinics/hospitals believe that accreditation has had a direct impact on the overall performance of the facility.
Details of this independent study are available at: https://euromedi.fr/pourquoi-se-faire-accrediter/

2- Which healthcare facilities are eligible for accreditation/certification?

All healthcare facilities in the broadest sense can be accredited or certified. This includes hospitals, retirement and nursing homes and specialized clinics. EuroMedi has also decided to accredit activities directly related to the healthcare sector, such as medical transport, medical simulation centers and medical software.

3- What's the difference between accreditation and certification? 

Accreditation refers to an audit of an entire healthcare facility. This is the case when all the services of a hospital or clinic are examined. The same applies to retirement and nursing homes. But sometimes, hospitals or clinics only want to highlight certain activities that have built their reputation. In this case, we will certify a specific department (operating theatres, obstetrics, etc.) or a patient pathway, for example. However, the process and requirements are identical, as are the auditors. Visit our comparison page for more details.

Visit our comparison page for more details.

4- Where do the standards to be respected and implemented derive from? 

The standards to be respected and implemented come essentially from internationally recognized good practices found in scientific literature and in recommendations published by learned societies, notably, for example, by the WHO (World Health Organization). They are listed by our scientific monitoring team and validated by our Scientific Committee before being included in our guides.

5- How are surveys organized?

There are three types of survey (gap analysis, intermediate and final). While the first two are optional, the final one is of course compulsory. The facility is notified of the period (but not the exact days) during which the final audit will take place. The surveyors will examine the various documents used within the institution, but above all they will meet with most of the players involved: from management to patients/residents, and of course to staff. The number of days the auditors spend in the facility depends on its size.

6- Who are the surveyors?

The surveyors are all healthcare professionals ( physicians, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, etc.) or management professionals (hospital managers, nursing home managers, management and logistics specialists, etc.). They all have at least 20 years' experience in the sector, come from different countries and have received specific audit training.

7-How long does the assessment process take? 

    The length of the assessment process depends on two key criteria: the size of the healthcare facility, and its degree of maturity in relation to the required standards. It generally lasts between 18 and 36 months. The motivation to invest in the process is obviously also a factor in its success.

    8- How long is the accreditation/certification valid for?

    The period of validity of accreditations/certifications depends on the level obtained.

    • For 1-star level: two years
    • For 2-stars level: three years
    • For 3-stars level: four years,
    • For 4-stars (premium) level: five years

    This is to ensure that the essential best practices implemented in the initial phases are not lost over time.

    9-What do the 4 accreditation/certification levels represent?

      The 4 levels of accreditation/certification correspond to the achievement of increasingly demanding standards:

      1. the first level, one starcorresponds to the implementation of basic good practices ensuring the safety and well-being of all stakeholders
      2. the second level, two stars,, corresponds to an even more proactive approach to quality and safety, with criteria in line with the world's best practices, as well as a genuine CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policy. And, to achieve them, teams not only have concrete objectives been set and measured, but a continuous improvement process has also been implemented
      3. the third level, three stars,, correspond à une approche encore plus volontariste de la qualité et de la sécurité avec des critères rencontrant les meilleures pratiques mondiales, ainsi qu’une vraie politique de RSE (Responsabilité sociétale des établissements). Et, pour leur réalisation, non seulement, la mise en place des objectifs concrets, leur mesure mais aussi un processus d’amélioration continue.
      4. The fourth level, Premium combines all the requirements of the first three levels. But in addition, the establishment is recognized as a leader in its sector through innovative practices, publications on its achievements and the pursuit of continuous improvement in all areas.

      10-What does the cost of accreditation/certification include?

      The cost of accreditation/certification includes :

      • Basic training in the accreditation/certification process
      • access to the Auditor self-assessment tool
      • updating the tool and additional information in the guides
      • support from our scientific and IT teams, if necessary
      • final visit by auditors
      • final report
      • delivery of proof of accreditation/certification

      The only two optional elements are the gap anlaysis and intermediates visits.