Resources for Accreditation

HQACI has established a structured, transparent, and documented process for the development and revision of healthcare accreditation standards. This process is defined in the HQACI Standards Development and Revision Methodology and is consistently applied across all standards development activities.

Standards are developed through a defined lifecycle that includes needs identification, evidence and benchmarking review, draft development, stakeholder consultation, independent expert and technical review, and formal approval. Where applicable, pilot testing or field validation is conducted. Each stage is supported by defined outputs, assigned responsibilities, and documented records to ensure traceability and auditability.

The standard development process is overseen by the HQACI Standards Development Committee, which ensures methodological consistency, multidisciplinary input, and formal approval of standards. Responsibilities for technical drafting, methodological oversight, stakeholder engagement, and document control are clearly defined.

Standards are developed using an evidence-informed approach that incorporates international accreditation frameworks, WHO and ISQua guidance, regulatory requirements, scientific literature, patient safety data, and expert consensus. Where evidence is limited, the rationale for decisions is documented and subject to future review.

Standards are subject to post-implementation monitoring and are reviewed at defined intervals not exceeding five years, or earlier where triggered by regulatory changes, emerging risks, new evidence, or stakeholder feedback. Version control, classification of revisions, and full documentation of changes are maintained to ensure transparency and consistency over time.