Abstract
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus pandemic forced regulatory agencies to develop innovative methods for achieving regulatory compliance. The accrediting body for trauma centers in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF), was one of the many agencies forced to find creative and safe ways to maintain prepandemic processes of evaluating trauma centers for compliance with trauma standards. With the uncertainty of government and hospital regulations prohibiting on-site participation and precautionary efforts to protect the health and well-being of survey participants, a virtual site visit survey process was developed to facilitate trauma center accreditation within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe an accrediting body's experience with implementing a virtual accreditation site visit survey process for Level I and II trauma centers.
METHODS: In 2021, the PTSF piloted the virtual survey process and completed two virtual accreditation surveys.
RESULTS: Feedback from participants included both positive and negative responses. The virtual format was effective in maintaining a high-quality accreditation process. However, multiple downsides were identified, including loss of interactive participation, loss of collaboration, limited educational opportunities, and increased presurvey workload for all participants.
CONCLUSION: The in-person and virtual formats can accomplish the goal of the accreditation survey. The negative implications identified suggest that a traditional on-site accreditation process is preferred, with the virtual format reserved for extenuating circumstances.