title: The methodology for defining the European standards for the certification of Haemophilia Centres in Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Work Package 4 Development of the standardisation criteria of the European Haemophilia Network project has the main objective of implementing a common and shared European strategy for a certification system for two levels of Haemophilia Centres: European Haemophilia Treatment Centres and European Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centres in the Member States of the European Union.
  
  
  METHODS
  An inclusive and participatory process for developing shared standards and criteria for the management of patients with inherited bleeding disorders has been carried out. The process has been implemented through four different consultation events involving the entire European community of stakeholders that significantly contributed in the drafting of the European Guidelines for the certification of Haemophilia Centres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Guidelines set the standards for the designation of centres that provide specialised and multidisciplinary care (Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centres) as well as local routine care (Haemophilia Treatment Centres). Standards cover several issues such as: general requirements; patient care; advisory services; laboratory; networking of clinical and specialised services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The drafting of the European Guidelines for the certification of Haemophilia Centres was performed adopting a rigorous methodological approach. In order to build the widest possible consensus to the quality standards, the main institutional and scientific stakeholders have been involved. The resulting document will significantly contribute in promoting standardisation in the quality of diagnosis and treatment in European Haemophilia Centres.
authors.affiliation: European Haemophilia Consortium, Brussels, Belgium National Blood Centre, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Candura
authors.affiliation: European Haemophilia Consortium, Brussels, Belgium Necstep Studio Associato, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Menichini
authors.affiliation: European Haemophilia Consortium, Brussels, Belgium National Blood Centre, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calizzani
authors.affiliation: European Haemophilia Consortium, Brussels, Belgium Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giangrande
authors.affiliation: Scientific Direction, IRCCS Ca' Granda Maggiore Policlinico Hospital Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Pier Mannuccio
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mannucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makris
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic