Accreditation procedures for medical establishments

In order to gain accreditation, medical establishments must develop a quality management system not only for their clinical activities, but also for their organization and administration. Accreditation for dental practices is subject to a charge either once a year or once every three years. It allows them to be included in a list of accredited dental establishments, thus boosting their value and authoritativeness. However, accreditation requires ongoing updates and renewal of the methods, equipment and technology used in practices. On a regular basis, inspectors appointed by the regional authorities go to accredited dental practices to assess their efficiency and the ongoing improvements, then decide whether to confirm or withdraw their accreditation.

It is possible for both new and existing dental practices to apply for accreditation. Either way, the key requirements for any dental practice that wants accreditation are that it must bring its prices in line with standardized rates, guarantee ongoing training for the staff and the dentist, and use first-rate materials and cutting-edge equipment.

To request official accreditation for an establishment, the dentist must find out about the documents required to be included on the registration list and meet the structural and technological quality standards set by the regional authorities. Subsequently, the dentist will be visited by an inspector, who will verify whether the practice meets all of the requirements.

All dentists who wish to improve the quality and productivity of their practices can apply for accreditation. In order to achieve their goal, they should contact private research groups with the know-how to develop high-quality management systems for medical establishments. Accreditation requires dentists to analyse and optimize the management and administration processes in their practices. It brings significant advantages, including:

• An improvement in working standards, as noted first and foremost by patients.
• More linear and efficient management of the dental team.
• Lower running costs and higher revenue thanks to the boost in quality.
• More profitable coordination within the practice and, as a consequence, a better staff management, which means a more motivated staff and less prone to in-house clashes or lack of job satisfaction.
• In addition to the professional recognition and prestige associated with the certification, accreditation also leads to a significant increase in the efficiency of medical establishments, which invariably brings about greater patient satisfaction and therefore higher earnings.

Once a dental practice has been included on the list of accredited establishments, the accreditation agency acting as an intermediary will provide the support required for the practice to boost its efficiency and quality, by:

• Providing specific training for the management of a private practice.
• Placing a specialist at the disposal of the practice to help it gather the necessary documents for the authorization and accreditation.
• Giving professional advice on how to manage a successful dental practice.

The main aim of accreditation for dental practices is to adapt the clinical protocol to include high-quality procedures and ongoing professional training for both dentists and their teams, so that they can provide an outstanding service.

14/07/2017