Assessing Health System Performance Through Accreditation in Iran: Evidence, Outcomes, and Lessons Learned

Abstract Introduction: Evaluation is an essential component of any health system. Accreditation, a standardized assessment system, has been developed with multiple objectives, including preventing unsafe services and ensuring the provision of high-quality and efficient healthcare. This study aimed to review and evaluate the effects of accreditation in the Iranian healthcare system. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a narrative review. Scientific databases, including SID, PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Ovid, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, were searched for relevant literature published between ۲۰۰۵ and ۲۰۲۵. The keywords used in the search included: "standard," "accreditation," "evaluation," "impact," and "quality of health care". Of ۲۲۵ records identified, ۳۳ studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Results: The findings were categorized into five main areas: duality in improving care quality indicators; human resource implications; financial effects of accreditation; the role and competency of accreditation assessors; and patient satisfaction. Evidence showed mixed outcomes, highlighting both benefits and limitations of accreditation in improving healthcare delivery and organizational performance. Conclusion: This review identified strengths and weaknesses of accreditation systems, providing valuable insights for healthcare managers. Effective implementation requires developing clear guidelines, training staff and evaluators, and conducting careful cost-benefit analyses to guide improvements in healthcare delivery and organizational processes.

کلیدواژه ها:

Accreditation ، Health System Evaluation Mechanism ، Quality of Health Care