Hospital Visiting & Accreditation Programme

The Hospital Visiting and Accreditation Programme (HVAP) is a Joint Committee from the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) and the European Board of Anaesthesiology (EBA).
The main goal of the HVAP is to ensure that an academic institution meets the prerequisites of training in anaesthesia. Together with the European Diploma of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, the HVAP serves to improve and harmonise anaesthesia training throughout Europe.

The HVAP was instituted to evaluate training programme in terms of facilities, design of education, standard and involvement of faculty, balance between clinical training and didactic teaching and the possibility for research.

The inspection focuses on structure as well as process. Structure addresses resources such as medical staff, facilities, library, technical equipment, access to medical service and opportunities for research and development. Process refers to the “educational climate” and to how existing educational resources are used; whether there is a director of studies, whether training programmes are formulated and guidelines applied, how professional guidance is organised, and whether senior doctors take an active interest in the training of their younger colleagues. Good educational resources may not be used to their full potential because of inadequate involvement, and conversely, a positive educational and academic climate may compensate for material deficiencies.

The HVAP organises Hospital visits for accreditation.