title: What is a Certified Hernia Center? The Example of the German Hernia Society and German Society of General and Visceral Surgery.
abstract: To date, the scientific definition "hernia center" does not exist and this term is being used by hospitals and private institutions as a marketing instrument. Hernia surgery has become increasingly more complex over the past 25 years. Differentiated use of the various techniques in hernia surgery has been adopted as a "tailored approach" program and requires intensive engagement with, and extensive experience of, the entire field of hernia surgery. Therefore, there is a need for hernia centers. A basic requirement for a credible certification process for hernia centers involves definition of requirements and its verification by hernia societies and/or non-profit organizations that are interested in assuring the best possible quality of hernia surgery. At present, there are two processes for certification of hernia centers by hernia societies or non-profit organizations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Vivantes Hospital Berlin, Academic Teaching Hospital of Charité Medical School , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Köckerling
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Baden-Baden , Baden-Baden , Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: German Society of General and Visceral Surgery , Berlin , Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Jost
keywords: certified hernia center; health care; hernia center; hernia registry; quality assurance; tailored approach