Role of a hospital accreditation program in developing a process management system: A qualitative study
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
ISSN: 0952-6862
Article publication date: 11 February 2019
Issue publication date: 11 February 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to clarify the effects of the Iranian Hospital Accreditation Program (IHAP) on hospital processes from the viewpoint of the staff charged with establishing the program.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative study is based on the data collected in semi-structured interviews conducted in 2016, which involved eight questions. Interviews were held with 70 staff members at 14 hospitals. Managerial staff were purposively interviewed based on their familiarity and involvement with the program. The hospitals were divided into five groups, comprising public, private, charity, military and social service hospitals. A thematic analysis was carried out using the collected data.
Findings
Three themes emerged from the data, which together comprise a process management cycle: the establishment, implementation, and control phases of the program. For each phase, various positive trends, as well as hurdles for establishing the program, declared which were framed two sub-themes as positive effects and challenges.
Originality/value
The findings contribute to the body of evidence used by policy-makers and hospital managers to improve the change management processes related to the Iranian IHAP. Although positive changes in the process management cycles at Iranian hospitals were noted, successful implementation of the program demands a thorough assessment of the hospitals’ technical and financial needs (taking into account disparities between hospitals), and there is an urgent requirement for a plan to meet these needs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Expression of Concern : The publisher of the International Journal of Health Care Quality is issuing an Expression of Concern for the following article Shakibaei, E. (2019), “Role of a hospital accreditation program in developing a process management system: A qualitative study”, published in the International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance , Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 120-136.
The intention of this notice is to inform readers that credible concerns have been raised regarding a number of research errors in the work, and also over the authorship of the paper. The investigation into both concerns continues, but to date remains unresolved. This project was supported by a grant from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Grant No. 94-04-27-29173). The author thanks Mrs Aghamohammadi for her helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. Additionally, the author is grateful to Dr Manouchehri and Dr Mosadeghrad whose helps and comments strengthened the paper.
Citation
Shakibaei, E. (2019), "Role of a hospital accreditation program in developing a process management system: A qualitative study", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 120-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-01-2018-0002
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited