External evaluation of hospital organizations in Brazil: could things be done differently?

This paper addresses different aspects related to the use of external evaluation models of health services in Brazil, especially hospital accreditation. It is based upon the author's experience in implementing quality evaluation models in hospitals, as well as on her master and PhD works. The author presents a few aspects concerning the impact of the use of these models in hospitals and the specificities of their application. The results are listed: management enhancement, standardization of processes, personnel training, teamwork, patient-focused care, motivation, external recognition, culture change. The author points out the sundry aspects concerning the way such models are used in Brazilian hospitals.