The Impact of Hospital Accreditation on Healthcare Service Quality and Patient Safety: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Hospital accreditation has been widely implemented as a strategy to improve healthcare quality and patient safety. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness remains inconsistent across healthcare settings. Therefore, this study aims to systematically review the current evidence on the impact of hospital accreditation on healthcare quality and patient safety. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted following the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was conducted in Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Garuda databases using predefined search terms. Articles published between 2017 and 2026 were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 20 eligible studies were analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach. Findings indicate that hospital accreditation generally improves adherence to quality standards, patient safety culture, organizational governance, clinical documentation, healthcare worker competency, and patient satisfaction. However, the sustainability of these improvements depends on leadership commitment, organizational readiness, adequate resources, and ongoing quality improvement after accreditation. These findings suggest that hospital accreditation should be implemented as a continuous quality improvement strategy, not merely as a certification process but also as a means to support hospital administrators and policymakers in strengthening healthcare quality and patient safety. This review includes 20 references, 1 tables, and 1 figures.