Accreditation for IVF clinics is an important consideration with a multitude of benefits. When you implement quality management systems with positive risk reduction and emphasis on staff training, that should be recognised. It advertises your commitment to quality and patient welfare via the endorsement of a highly reputable third party.
This is largely what accreditation is all about.
The definition of accreditation as it pertains to IVF clinics combines a couple dictionary definitions. It is the action of officially recognising an organisation as being qualified to perform a particular activity. In this case IVF and associated services to a recognised standard set by external regulators.
External benefits
So, what are the generic external benefits of accreditation to an IVF clinic?
Specifically, this is all about the way that a clinic is perceived by the outside world, primarily by potential patients. In terms of external benefits, accreditation can:
- Provide a competitive edge in the marketplace
Accreditation is likely to provide a marketing advantage to clinics in a competitive health care environment. It can improve the ability to secure new business because potential patients understand that the clinic has hallmark of quality. The power of this should be not be underestimated. It is the difference, in the patient’s mind, between buying a brass ring and a gold ring. Only one has the requisite guarantee of quality.
- Reduce liability insurance costs
Accreditation may improve access to and reduce the cost of liability insurance coverage. Being accredited involves a strong commitment to risk management as part of its quality assurance processes.
- Increase the attractiveness of the clinic as a provider to payers
The definition of payers depends on the circumstances but can range from private insurers to commissioners for national health services. Accreditation offers those payers an external guarantee of quality for the services they are buying. In some cases, accreditation can be a prerequisite for participation in managed care plans and contract bidding.
- Fulfil regulatory requirements
In select states and countries laws may require certain health care providers to acquire accreditation for their organization.
As well as external benefits there are also major internal benefits that come with accreditation for IVF clinics. Many of these benefits are directly related to quality assurance initiatives that are already be in place. They have direct relevance to the day-to-day management of an IVF clinic.
Internal benefits
- Patient safety
This is usually at the forefront of accreditation standards and initiatives. The scrutiny of safety by the accrediting body helps to organise, strengthen and formalise patient safety efforts
- Risk management
As we’ve already seen this is not just about safety. Risk management is also about productivity. Accrediting bodies scrutinize the performance improvement strategies. These help health care organizations continuously reduce the risk of error, low quality care and the costs associated with errors
- Education and advice
Accrediting bodies often provide educational resources that can improve business functions. In addition, they provide professional advice and counsel because of their expertise in the area of accreditation
- Staff recruitment and development
Accreditation can attract qualified personnel, who prefer to serve in an accredited organization. Accrediting bodies also provide additional opportunities for staff to develop their skills and knowledge
- Framework for management
Accreditation generally involves preparing for an inspection at some featured point in the year. This maintains a high level of quality and compliance with the latest standards. As such it is a good organisational focus point, with measurable goals that can be included in management planning.
What types of accreditation are available?
Let’s start with the USA.
International Standards Organisation1 (ISO) is useful for providing quality assurance tools and accreditation for medical laboratories. However, this does not cover clinical practice.
The Gold Standard for accreditation in the US for clinical practice is the Joint Commission2 based in the US. It is an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies over 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the US.
Importantly, within the US, most states require that healthcare providers receive Joint Commission accreditation as a condition for Medicaid reimbursement. Also, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recognizes the results of Joint Commission surveys. This means healthcare facilities that receive Joint Commission accreditation can also participate in the federal Medicare program.
Achieving accreditation is just the first step. To keep Joint Commission accredited status, a healthcare organisation is subject to an onsite evaluation. This is performed by a Joint Commission survey group at least every three years. Laboratories must undergo rigorous reviews every two years.
Europe
As in the US, accreditation for laboratory services can be provided by the International Standards Organisation. However, accreditation of clinical services is a more complex issue in Europe than in the US. This is for two reasons:
- Europe is not federated like the US. So, each country has its own health care system.
- Healthcare provision in European countries tends to be single payer, with the government of each country being the payer. As such it is the government, representing the taxpayers in each country, which is the guarantor of the quality of service.
It is in the interest of private healthcare facilities such as most IVF units to gain accreditation from governments. So far only three European governments offer accreditation for healthcare facilities. These are France, Belgium and Scotland. In the future this is likely to change as other countries are beginning to lobby for this. Notably in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland3.
It is recommended that European facilities acquire the appropriate laboratory accreditation via both national standards and ISO. They can also apply to Joint Commission International (JCI), which is the international arm of Joint Commission in the US. This accreditation and certification is recognized worldwide as a symbol of quality. It reflects an organisation’s commitment to meeting its rigorous performance standards.
Neil Madden, Editor
The Fertility Hub
References
- www.iso.org
- www.jointcommission.org
- World Health Organisation: HEN summaries of network members’ reports: What is the nature of hospital accreditation in Europe? From: Scrivens E. Accreditation and the regulation of quality in health services. In: Saltman RB, Busse R, Mossialos E, eds. 2002. Regulating entrepreneurial behaviour in European health care systems. Open University Press, 2002:91—105.
