ABSTRACT
The aim of hospital inspection schemes run by external bodies is to ensure that hospitals are well-designed and well-run facilities that provide good working environments for staff and high-quality health care for patients. There are three forms of external inspection schemes: licensure, accreditation and certification. This chapter focuses on acute care hospitals and examines the evidence on the impact of these three types of inspection schemes on the quality and safety of health care for patients. Acute care hospitals have changed dramatically over the last few decades in their structures, the procedures they undertake and their patient management systems. This has occurred in response to advances in knowledge and technology, changing population structures and disease patterns, constraints on resources and rising public expectations. A top tier of international-level organisations accredits the national-level bodies, develops standards, devises assessment procedures and promotes its own networks of members.
