Table 4 Overview of the national accreditation program in Lebanon and Jordan
Features of accreditation program | Lebanon | Jordan |
|---|---|---|
Configuration | - Two national accreditation programs, targeting: - Private and public hospitals - Primary healthcare centers (PHC) | - Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC) accredits health facilities and services along the continuum from primary to tertiary care |
Purpose | - A regulatory tool to strengthen the MOPH’s capability to influence quality of care in both the public and the private sector | - To promote and document improvement in the performance of health care services |
Role of government | - MOPH is involved in the development and management of the two national accreditation programs | - HCAC is a private national health care accreditation agency that operates independently of the government |
Policy/legislation/decree | - Hospital accreditation by the MOPH is authorized by the Ministerial Decree 7612 (2002) with the functions of the accreditation program also defined by Decree 482/1 (2009) - No legal requirements for PHC accreditation | - HCAC and its functions are not articulated in a law or an official decree |
Incentives and disincentives | - Accreditation status linked to MOPH contractual arrangements with hospitals - Ongoing plans to develop a new contractual system for PHC centers that are accredited | - Absence of any commercial or regulatory incentives for health care organizations to seek national accreditation |
Standards | - Not ISQua-accredited - Structure- and process-oriented - Not updated on a regular basis *There are ongoing plans to revamp the standards based on ISQua-requirements | - Accreditation standards are all ISQua-accredited - Standards are updated regularly (albeit based on international standards updates rather than country health systems updates) |
Process | - No standardized tools to measure compliance with accreditation standards - Performance indicators are not mandated and monitored for compliance - Accreditation status is not renewed on a regular basis - No mechanism in place to ensure quality beyond accreditation *There are ongoing plans to strengthen the accreditation process | - Accreditation status is renewed every two years - Mechanisms in place to ensure quality is sustained in healthcare organizations post accreditation:  - Midpoint self-assessment and submission of reports  - Unannounced surveys by surveyors  - Ongoing plans to introduce a mystery client model |
Surveyors | - National surveyors/auditors for PHC accreditation are certified by Accreditation Canada - Ongoing plans to develop and train national surveyors for hospital accreditation - No current plans for re-certification of surveyors | - National surveyors are all ISQua- certified - National surveyors undergo recertification every two years |