What is a primary goal of healthcare accreditation?

The primary goal of healthcare accreditation is to enhance the quality of patient care. Accreditation serves as a formal recognition that a healthcare facility meets predefined standards of care set by accrediting organizations. These standards often focus on various aspects of healthcare delivery, including patient safety, quality of care, clinical effectiveness, and overall organizational performance.

When a healthcare facility successfully achieves accreditation, it signifies a commitment to maintaining high-quality services for patients. This process typically involves rigorous evaluations, assessments, and continuous quality improvement initiatives aimed at promoting better health outcomes. The ultimate focus of accreditation is to ensure that patients receive safe, effective, and high-quality treatment while fostering an environment that prioritizes patient welfare.

In contrast, the other options—like increasing hospital profits, improving healthcare workers’ salaries, or reducing the number of healthcare facilities—are not primary goals of the accreditation process. While financial performance and worker compensation may be influenced indirectly by the quality improvements seen through accreditation, they do not directly align with the fundamental purpose of enhancing patient care quality.