From the midnight burning of substandard survey records in 1919 to today’s digital health revolution, healthcare accreditation has shaped patient safety for a century. In this episode, we explore how rigid, box-checking audits are transforming into continuous, technology-driven quality improvement systems. Ken Grubbs and I break down why modernizing accreditation matters, how real-time data cuts administrative burnout, and what the future holds for patient-centered care. Tune in to discover how evolving clinical standards are improving healthcare from the bedside to the boardroom.
References:
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- Greenfield D, Pawsey M, Hinchcliff R, Moldovan M, Braithwaite J. The standard of healthcare accreditation standards: a review of empirical research underpinning their development and impact. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012;12:329.
- Hinchcliff R. Advancing the accreditation economy: a critical reflection. Int J Qual Health Care. 2021;33(4):mzab154.
- Hussein M, Pavlova M, Ghalwash M, Groot W. The impact of hospital accreditation on the quality of healthcare: a systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2021;21(1):1057.
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- Patel R, Benson I, Engel C, O’Connor E, Braithwaite J. An AI-supported synthesis of the healthcare accreditation and standards literature. Volume 1: All literature available accessed from the start of the PubMed database to 31st December 2023. Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University; 2025.
- Roberts JS, Coale JG, Redman RR. A history of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. JAMA. 1987;258(7):936-940. doi:10.1001/jama.1987.03400070074039
- World Health Organization. Health Care Accreditation and Quality of Care: Exploring the Role of Accreditation and External Evaluation of Health Care Facilities and Organizations. World Health Organization; 2022.
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