Hernia Centers

Accreditation is granted after completing a specific form certifying completion of the learning curve (see table below) and the number of procedures performed each year (according to the criteria listed below), certified by the Medical Director of the relevant health authority/hospital. Accreditation is temporary and is renewed every year after verifying the continuity of surgical activity and its results.

This is a facility (public, or private and accredited with the National Health Service) where at least 2 ISHAWS Level I accredited surgeons work, whose accreditation has already been confirmed at least once. Accreditation as a Reference Center can therefore take place at least one year after the surgeons’ accreditation. In addition to the specific parameters listed in the table, the facility must meet the following requirements:

Outpatient surgery service;
Possibility of urgent/emergency admission for patients already treated;
Surgeon and anaesthetist on duty/on call 24/7;
Intensive care unit on site or within the hospital network;
Laboratory, radiology (CT) and transfusion service active or on call 24/7, on site or within the hospital network;
Plastic surgery service available on site or within the hospital network;
Complex wound care service (negative pressure, etc.) available.

The Reference Center must also be a training site for the Italian School of Abdominal Wall Surgery, and the surgeons working there must demonstrate active participation (as speaker/chair) every year in at least three events on abdominal wall surgery (congress/workshop/meeting), as well as in the EHS congress every 2 years. Finally, the Center must take part in any multicentre studies proposed by the Society.

This is a facility (public, or private and accredited with the National Health Service) where at least 2 ISHAWS Level I accredited surgeons work, whose accreditation has already been confirmed at least once, and at least 1 surgeon in specific training. Accreditation as a Highly Specialised Center can take place at least one year after accreditation as a Reference Center.

In addition to the specific parameters listed in the table, the facility must meet the following requirements:

Outpatient surgery service;
Possibility of urgent/emergency admission for patients already treated;
Surgeon and anaesthetist on duty/on call 24/7;
Intensive care unit on site or within the hospital network;
Laboratory, radiology (CT) and transfusion service active or on call 24/7, on site or within the hospital network;
Plastic surgery service available on site or within the hospital network;
Complex wound care service (negative pressure, etc.) available.

The Center must be a training site for the Italian School of Abdominal Wall Surgery. It must also organise at least one event every year (course/workshop/meeting) and at least 2 of the following initiatives:

Publication of scientific papers on the topic in international journals with an Impact Factor;
Organisation of multicentre studies;
Active participation in the EHS congress;
Research and development of new materials and technologies