Accreditation of digestive endoscopy services: a method of quality assuring?

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Accreditation is one method of assuring quality, but the evidence base in support of service accreditation is mixed. More recent experiences indicate that accreditation may accelerate improvements.

Areas covered

Our aim is focused on endoscopy service accreditation and we conducted a literature search using Medline (via Pubmed) and the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials up to January 2020.

Expert opinion

Worldwide numerous centers fail to meet important quality indicators as suggested by international guidelines. Accreditation can provide means for detecting many problems and correcting them by implementing agreed standards.

KEYWORDS:

• Accreditation
• quality assurance
• quality improvement

Article highlights

• This review focuses on the accreditation of digestive endoscopy services as a method of quality assuring.

• Evidence suggests that there are both numerous advantages and disadvantages of the accreditation programs and schemes.

• Several lessons can be learnt from Italian and International experiences on accreditation; including the those from the UK, the Netherlands and South Korea.

The future of accreditation lies within further evaluation of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of such schemes. But promising data from the Joint Advisory Group and others indicates scope for transformation.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.