What is the term for when a health care facility requests an external review of its services?

The term for when a health care facility requests an external review of its services is accreditation. Accreditation serves as a formal recognition that a health care organization meets predetermined standards of quality and care. This process typically involves a thorough evaluation performed by an external body or organization to ensure that the facility adheres to specific regulations and fulfills quality norms.

Accreditation is crucial as it not only helps facilities improve their services but also assures the public about the quality of care they can expect. It promotes continuous improvement and accountability, encouraging organizations to maintain high standards in health care delivery.

In contrast, auditing involves the systematic examination of records and processes, often from an internal perspective, to ensure compliance and accuracy, whereas benchmarking refers to comparing performance metrics against best practices or standards within the industry. Credentialing, on the other hand, is the process of verifying the qualifications and background of healthcare professionals. Each of these concepts plays a different role in quality assurance within health care, but they do not specifically refer to the process of requesting an external review of services like accreditation does.