An accreditation model for children friendly hospitals: brief report

Background: Hospital accreditation is an external evaluation of a hospital’s structures, processes and results by an independent professional accreditation body using pre-established optimum standards. Hospital accreditation has an important role in improving quality, safety, effectiveness and efficiency of hospital services. A generic questionnaire is usually used to accredit all hospitals. However, specific instruments should be used for evaluation and accreditation of specialized hospitals considering their unique nature and specific requirements. Thus, this study aimed to develop an accreditation model for children hospitals. Methods: A mixed method approach was used for such a descriptive and cross-sectional study. First, using a comparative study, accreditation standards and measurement criteria of children friendly hospitals were extracted from 10 well-known hospital evaluation and accreditation models and initiatives. Second, complementary interviews with 57 hospitals senior, middle and front line managers and pediatrics doctors and nurses were conducted to identify more children friendly hospital accreditation standards and measurement criteria. Third, children friendly hospital accreditation standards and criteria were modified considering the Iranian context. Finally, five pediatrics doctors reviewed, modified, finalized and confirmed accreditation standards and criteria. Results: The Iranian framework for accreditation of children-friendly hospitals was consisted of ten standards covering management and leadership, planning and policy making, education, patient management, employee management, resource management, process management, patients’, employees’ and organization results and 132 measuring criteria. Such a systemic framework covers pediatrics hospitals’ structures, processes, outputs and outcomes. A children friendly hospital achieves better results for employees and patients through strong management and leadership, proper planning and policy making, continuous education and training staff and patients and effective management of employees, patients, resources and processes. Conclusion: The proposed children-friendly hospitals accreditation model can be used for evaluation and accreditation of children hospitals and provide a clear picture of the performance of these hospitals.