Promoting research into healthcare accreditation/external evaluation: advancing an ISQua initiative

In 2005, the Research Working Group of the ISQua Accreditation Council began discussing how to stimulate, promote and share accreditation/external evaluation research and information. What research in this area currently exists? What are the research gaps? What mechanisms might be developed to facilitate the sharing of this research?Healthcare accreditation started in 1918. However, since the 1980s there has been a marked increase in expansion globally, with accreditation organizations now existing in over 70 countries and using a great amount of resources and effort. Questions are being raised about the value of accreditation and whether it makes a verifiable improvement in healthcare delivery and healthcare outcomes [1, 2]. Those directly involved in the accreditation projects strongly believe in its contribution to improving health service and care quality. Others have differing opinions based on their perceptions [3]. Research in the area of accreditation/external evaluation is, for that reason, essential to address those issues. Accreditation/external evaluation must be relevant and measurably …