Accredited hospitals: excellence in healthcare services

In healthcare, trust cannot rest on intentions alone; it requires evidence. Just as in many fields an inspection seal confirms that all the important protocols were followed, hospital accreditation ensures that a healthcare institution operates according to rigorous quality and safety standards.

An accredited hospital is one that voluntarily undergoes an external, independent evaluation to verify whether its care and administrative processes meet demanding requirements of excellence.

Unlike mandatory inspections, such as those carried out by health surveillance authorities, accreditation is a strategic choice. It shows that the hospital seeks not merely to comply with legal requirements but to truly offer the best patient journey, always pursuing operational effectiveness and continuous improvement.

Although it is not a legal requirement, accreditation is increasingly valued by patients, health plans, managers and investors, precisely because it reinforces safe, standardized, evidence‑based practices.

What is the hospital accreditation process like?

Hospital accreditation is a process that has become increasingly common in Brazil, especially among hospitals and clinics that aim to be national and international benchmarks.

It is structured in stages that promote diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation of institutional quality. It starts internally, with a self-assessment to identify strengths and gaps, followed by the structuring and integration of clinical and administrative protocols. Finally, it culminates in an external evaluation by independent auditors.

The main steps, therefore, include:

1. Internal diagnosis: a survey of care and administrative processes.

2. Improvement planning: defining actions to align with the required standards.

3. Implementing changes: standardizing protocols and workflows.

4. Team training: involving all professionals in the defined practices.

5. External evaluation: a visit by auditors who check processes, documents and routines.

6. Maintaining the seal: after approval, the hospital receives the certificate, with periodic audits to ensure quality is maintained.

This cycle reinforces that accreditation is not a finish line but a continuous process of improving healthcare delivery.

Main accreditation models: ONA and JCI

In Brazil, the National Accreditation Organization (ONA) is the body responsible for the main hospital accreditation system. ONA develops and manages national safety and quality standards based on internationally recognized best practices, and it is also a member of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), which reinforces its global credibility.

Accreditation by Joint Commission International (JCI) is another important standard, with international recognition and rigorous criteria focused on patient safety, risk management and clinical governance. JCI certification is considered a global seal of excellence and demands high levels of compliance with care and organizational standards

ONA accreditation levels

ONA accreditation is structured in three levels, which represent progressive degrees of institutional maturity and process integration:

· Level 1 – Accredited: confirms that the institution meets essential patient safety requirements and basic care practices.

· Level 2 – Fully Accredited: in addition to safety, demonstrates integrated management, with standardized processes and smooth communication between areas.

· Level 3 – Accredited with Excellence: the highest level, which shows a culture of continuous improvement, results-oriented management and consolidated institutional maturity.

These levels work as a continuous evolution of quality, encouraging the organization to systematically advance its management and care practices.

How many hospitals are accredited in Brazil?

Brazil has about 110 ONA-accredited hospitals, considering all certification types and levels. This number represents a still limited share of the country’s healthcare institutions, which makes accreditation a competitive and strategic differentiator in the hospital landscape.

Regions with a higher concentration of accredited hospitals, such as São Paulo, stand out for the larger number of institutions seeking to consolidate quality and safety in care.

Why accreditation matters for hospital management

Accreditation goes beyond formal recognition. It establishes an institutional commitment to patient safety, process standardization and operational efficiency.

Accredited hospitals tend to have a lower incidence of clinical errors, better infection control, more consistent care records and more auditable administrative routines.

From a financial perspective, accreditation directly affects hospital billing and the reduction of denials. Standardized processes and proper documentation of procedures reduce inconsistencies, increase predictability in claim review and strengthen the relationship with health plans.

Accreditation also helps build institutional reputation, increasing the trust of patients, physicians, health plans and investors and strengthening competitiveness in the market.

Challenges of hospital accreditation

Despite the benefits, accreditation involves significant challenges. These include the costs of preparing for and maintaining the seal, internal resistance to changes in routine and the need for effective integration between clinical, administrative and financial areas to ensure ongoing compliance.

In this context, the use of management technologies, process automation and data analysis plays a decisive role in reducing the operational burden, increasing efficiency and sustaining the standards required by accreditation models.