CCHSA accreditation: A catalyst for change and a building block for social capital. Case study of a health authority in New Brunswick

As part of a multiple-case study, the objective of this single-case study is to examine the impact of the accreditation process offered by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) on one health care organization. The main hospital of the organisation selected has been accredited for a little over 50 years. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected for methodological triangulation. Two questionnaires were distributed; interviews and focus groups were conducted on site. A previously developed conceptual framework on the dimensions of change was used for the analysis. Some changes within the organization were traced back to the accreditation process and they were mainly at the organizational level, affecting processes and organizational structures. In addition, the accreditation self-assessment phase offers an opportunity to increase social capital, but the quantity and type acquired depends on the composition of the self-assessment team and the follow-up done after the accreditation survey.