What is HAS certification?

The certification procedure for healthcare establishments was introduced in 1996 and is implemented by the HAS (Haute Autorité de Santé).

In 2020, the certification procedure underwent a significant transformation to better meet today’s challenges in healthcare quality and safety. Certification of healthcare establishments in terms of quality of care has now been simplified and adapted to the working methods of healthcare professionals. It also places greater emphasis on patient outcomes.

What is HAS certification of healthcare establishments?

HAS certification is an external, independent and compulsory assessment system. It focuses on the level of services and care delivered to patients, and on the quality and safety improvement initiatives implemented by the facilities.

In addition, it applies to all healthcare establishments, whether public or private, whatever their size or activity.

Understanding HAS certification of healthcare facilities

Stage 1: the establishment’s commitment to the certification process

Firstly, the HAS commits the establishment to the certification procedure. For its part, the healthcare facility must provide HAS with the information it needs to define the scope of its approach.

Step 2: Self-evaluation of the healthcare facility

For this stage, healthcare professionals carry out their own quality assessment based on a reference framework, the certification manual, and define the action plans to be implemented. The results are then forwarded to the HAS.

Stage 3: the HAS quality of care certification visit

Expert visitors (healthcare professionals trained by HAS) visit the facility to carry out the certification visit. The purpose of this visit is to assess the level of quality achieved and the existence of a dynamic for improvement.

Stage 4: Conclusion of the certification procedure and report

At the end of the visit, the expert surveyors draw up a report which the HAS then uses as the basis for a graduated certification decision.

Finally, at the end of the procedure, the report is sent to the healthcare facility, the relevant Agence Régionale de Santé (ARS) and posted on the HAS website.

How to interpret HAS certification results?

The HAS makes its decisions on 4 levels:

HAS certificates are valid for 4 years. A full inspection is scheduled within 6 to 12 months, in the event of conditional certification. Following this reassessment, a certification decision or non-certification decision is issued.

What’s more, in the event of non-certification, a new full assessment is scheduled between 12 and 24 months. After this new visit, a decision is taken to grant certification (with or without mention) or to maintain non-certification.

Finally, all results are published on QualiScope, an online HAS information site on the quality and safety of all hospitals and clinics in France.

The benefits of HAS quality certification

HAS certification of healthcare facilities offers a number of advantages for various stakeholders:

Patients will be able to be informed of the quality of care offered by the facility, which will translate into better care for them.
Healthcare staff will see their commitment to constantly improving the quality and safety of care recognized and valued.
Healthcare facilities will be able to promote the quality and safety of their services to patients, healthcare professionals and institutions alike.

A platform to enhance the patient experience

At Moment Care, we have developed our Mint entertainment and information platform for patients. It combines content-rich entertainment, school information (welcome booklet, school map, educational content) and ancillary services (translator, video calls) on a single platform.

Finally, our platform helps us to better meet the expectations and needs of patients and their families.