What Global Healthcare Accreditation does

Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA), founded in 2009 and headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is a privately held accreditation body that develops proprietary standards and certification programs for the medical travel industry. The company's core technology is GHA Standards for Medical Travel 5.0 (alongside version 4.1), both accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (ISQua EEA), and organized around three competencies: Patient Experience, Sustainable Business Practices, and Patient-Focused Clinical Processes. Around these standards, GHA has assembled a portfolio that includes GHA Accreditation for Medical Travel Services, Certification for Excellence in Medical Travel Patient Experience, Healthcare Organization Standards 1.0, an Integrated Accreditation Program for Medical Travel, Telehealth Accreditation, Advanced Infection Prevention and Control Accreditation, WellHotel® accreditation for hospitality providers, and a Longevity and Regenerative Medicine Accreditation track. The accreditation process is an 18-month comprehensive evaluation involving gap assessments, documentation review, virtual validation interviews, and a 60-business-day compliance window, producing a recognizable seal that accredited organizations market to patients and partners.

GHA serves four customer segments: healthcare organizations (hospitals, ambulatory centers, dental clinics), medical travel professionals and facilitators, business organizations (including federal agencies via GHA for Federal Agencies), and hotels/resorts under the WellHotel program. Marquee accredited customers include Bumrungrad International Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center, and Clínica de Especialidades Oftalmológicas, alongside hospitality and facilitator brands such as Aonang Princeville Villa Resort & Spa and Bookimed.

GHA operates a recurring revenue model combining accreditation fees, auto-renewing annual fees (including a three-year COVID-19 certification), professional credentialing fees (Advanced CMTP, Medical Travel Facilitator Certification, Medical Travel Business Essentials Training), and professional services for Coaching, Mentorship, and Custom Education. Pricing is quote-based with custom proposals and a USD 300 administrative processing fee for refunds; credit card, wire transfer, and US check are accepted. Distribution is hybrid: direct enterprise sales for accreditation, channel partners including HCG International (Thailand/Japan/CLMV since 2017), Türkiye's Ministry of Trade (reimbursement endorsement), Saudi Enaya, AAPL, and Global Healthcare Resources (which reaches 2.6 million professionals), supplemented by self-service online workflows and an aggressive webinar and content-marketing program. The company is led by Founder and CEO Renée-Marie Stephano, with a four-person executive team covering Global Strategy, Business Development & Marketing, and Clinical Operations.

Name

Global Healthcare Accreditation

Legal name

Global Healthcare Accreditation, Inc.

Website

https://globalhealthcareaccreditation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) is a US-based, privately held accreditation body that certifies hospitals, clinics, facilitators, and hotels against ISQua-EEA-accredited standards focused on medical travel and international patient experience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Palm Beach Gardens

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Accreditation Fees: Healthcare organizations pay for GHA accreditation programs including Medical Travel Accreditation, Healthcare Organization Accreditation, and related certifications. The certification process includes application fees, documentation review, virtual validation interviews, and ongoing annual fees.
2. Annual Renewal Fees: GHA Certification comes with auto-renewal of annual fees. Certification of Conformance with COVID-19 Guidelines is valid for three years with annual renewal fees. Organizations must maintain valid payment methods on file.
3. Professional Certification Fees: Fees for Advanced Certified Medical Travel Professional (CMTP) certification, Medical Travel Business Essentials training, and Medical Travel Facilitator Certification for individuals and organizations.
4. Consulting and Advisory Services: Custom Education and Advisory Services, Coaching and Mentorship, and Surveyor/Consultant Training programs.
5. WellHotel Accreditation: Accreditation services for hotels and resorts under the WellHotel program for Medical Travel and Well-being certifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) develops and administers accreditation and certification programs for healthcare organizations, medical travel professionals, hotels/resorts, and corporate clients. Its flagship offering, GHA Accreditation for Medical Travel Services, evaluates hospitals, ambulatory centers, and dental clinics against the ISQua EEA-accredited GHA Standards 5.0 across Patient Experience, Sustainable Business Practices, and Patient-Focused Clinical Processes. Complementary programs include telehealth accreditation, infection prevention and control accreditation, WellHotel® hospitality accreditation, longevity and regenerative medicine accreditation, and professional certifications such as the Advanced Certified Medical Travel Professional (CMTP) and Medical Travel Facilitator Certification.

Product overview

Global Healthcare Accreditation (GHA) offers a comprehensive portfolio of accreditation, certification, training, coaching, and advisory programs focused on medical travel, healthcare quality, telehealth, wellness, and hospitality. The core portfolio consists of GHA Accreditation for Medical Travel Services (the flagship program aligned to ISQua-accredited Standards 5.0) and GHA Certification for Excellence in Medical Travel Patient Experience. Specialty accreditation tracks include GHA WellHotel® Accreditation (for hotels and resorts), GHA Telehealth Accreditation, GHA Advanced Infection Prevention and Control Accreditation, Longevity and Regenerative Medicine Accreditation, GHA Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (Standards 1.0), and the GHA Integrated Accreditation Program for Medical Travel. Professional offerings include the Advanced Certified Medical Travel Professional (Advanced CMTP) certification, Medical Travel Facilitator Certification, Medical Travel Business Essentials Training, and GHA Surveyor and Consultant Training. Advisory services encompass Coaching and Mentorship and Custom Education and Advisory Services. Additionally, GHA offers a Certification of Conformance with GHA COVID-19 Guidelines for Medical Travel Programs. Together, these programs form a multi-tiered ecosystem covering the full international patient journey—from hospital accreditation and patient experience certification to post-treatment hospitality and professional workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GHA Accreditation for Medical Travel Services Flagship accreditation program for healthcare organizations (hospitals, ambulatory centers, dental clinics) targeting medical travelers. Evaluates compliance with GHA Standards 5.0 across Patient Experience, Sustainable Business Practices, and Patient-Focused Clinical Processes; awards the GHA Accreditation seal as external validation of medical travel excellence.
• GHA Certification for Excellence in Medical Travel Patient Experience Certification program for hospitals and ambulatory centers (including dental clinics) seeking to elevate patient satisfaction and sustainable business practices. Functions as a stand-alone program or stepping stone toward full GHA Accreditation for Medical Travel Services.
• GHA WellHotel® Accreditation Accreditation program for hotels, resorts, Airbnb/VRBO rentals, and rental properties committed to exceptional wellness experiences. Includes tiers for Medical Travel and Well-being, awarding the GHA WellHotel® seal after third-party review and site inspection.
• GHA Telehealth Accreditation Pioneering accreditation program for benchmarking excellence in the telehealth industry. Focuses on three core competencies: enhancing patient experience, delivering exceptional patient care processes, and promoting sustainable and ethical business practices. Available to any health organization delivering telehealth services.
• GHA Advanced Infection Prevention and Control Accreditation Accreditation program demonstrating a healthcare organization's commitment to the highest global standards for internal and external threats, including infectious and non-infectious diseases, hospital-associated infections, surgical site infections, and antimicrobial resistance.
• Advanced Certified Medical Travel Professional (Advanced CMTP) Professional certification for individuals including healthcare professionals, facilitators, and travel agents working in or adjacent to medical travel. Validates expertise in medical travel program optimization and patient experience management along the medical travel care continuum.
• Medical Travel Facilitator Certification Online certification conducted by GHA that validates the capacity of facilitator companies to provide appropriate services enhancing safety and patient experience along the entire Medical Travel Care Continuum.
• Medical Travel Business Essentials Training Training program for individuals and professionals seeking to build foundational knowledge in medical travel business operations, program management, and patient experience optimization.
• GHA Surveyor and Consultant Training Training program for individuals seeking to become GHA surveyors or consultants, enabling them to conduct accreditation evaluations and advisory engagements for healthcare organizations seeking GHA accreditation.
• Coaching and Mentorship Services Personalized advisory services providing coaching and mentorship to healthcare organizations looking to improve their medical travel programs, patient experience, operational processes, and accreditation readiness.
• Custom Education and Advisory Services Tailored education and advisory solutions for healthcare organizations, including business strategy development, medical tourism marketing optimization, quality improvement, and accreditation preparation services.
• Longevity and Regenerative Medicine Accreditation Specialized accreditation program designed for organizations offering longevity and regenerative medicine services, setting standards for quality, safety, and patient-centered care in this emerging healthcare segment.
• Certification of Conformance with GHA COVID-19 Guidelines for Medical Travel Programs Certification providing medical travel programs with external validation of compliance against GHA COVID-19 Guidelines, including complimentary training. Valid for three years with annual renewal fees and involves an online readiness assessment, document submission, and virtual validation interview.
• GHA Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations Accreditation program for healthcare organizations based on GHA Healthcare Organization Standards 1.0, evaluating excellence across clinical quality, patient safety, organizational performance, and international patient services.
• GHA Integrated Accreditation Program for Medical Travel Comprehensive accreditation program recognizing excellence across clinical quality, patient safety, organizational performance, and international patient services simultaneously. The first organization to achieve this accreditation was Clínica de Especialidades Oftalmológicas (CEO) in June 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero institutional surgical infections over eight years demonstrated by accredited organization (CEO)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Saudi EnayacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Saudi Enaya is one of only two companies in Saudi health insurance market solely focused on quality healthcare insurance. In 2018, Saudi Enaya partnered with GHA to offer its members access to GHA accredited hospitals.
• HCG International (Thailand)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Since 2017, HCG International (Thailand) has worked closely with GHA to promote programs and services in Thailand, Japan, and CLMV countries. Founded in 2008 by Somporn Kumphong, MD, HCG International provides services integrating information, education, training, and consulting regarding international healthcare standards compliance.
• Better (Medical Tourism Platform)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerBetter is a global platform bridging key players in the medical tourism ecosystem, connecting medical travelers, qualified facilitators, and accredited providers. The platform offers access to trusted providers, robust education, financing options, and quality care, streamlining patient matching and automating processes.
• Ministry of Trade, TürkiyestrategicOthersGHA accreditation and certification programs have received official approval for reimbursement from the Ministry of Trade, Türkiye. This enables individuals and organizations in Türkiye's healthcare, wellness, and hospitality sectors to access financial support for GHA programs.
• American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHA and AAPL announced a strategic partnership to drive change and facilitate continuing education for healthcare leaders. Physicians associated with GHA and its accredited organizations receive exclusive access to discounts on AAPL membership and educational programs. AAPL has members in over 50 countries.
• Global Healthcare Resources (GHR)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Healthcare Resources is a leading international authority in health, reaching over 2.6 million professionals. GHR is a custom-tailored consulting firm with ability to augment strategy and growth in healthcare and medical travel fields.
• FaturhelpminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSince 2014, Faturhelp works to improve efficiency of medical facilities in Brazil by implementing best practices in staffing, billing, and patient care. Dr. Graccho Alvim is nationally recognized and also President of STEMS (Society of Travel and Medical Education).
• B.I.G ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerB.I.G Consulting is a boutique advisory firm specializing in Healthcare, Life Science, and Medical Technology. The firm helps innovative global companies establish and grow presence across the MEA region through strategic partnerships, channel setup, management, and commercialization.
• Planetree InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanetree International developed a statement on Supporting Family Presence During a Pandemic that GHA shared with healthcare providers, related to GHA's competency area in patient experience.
• American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAPL provides free and timely resources for physicians and healthcare professionals to manage COVID-19 challenges. GHA serves as a strategic partner sharing these resources, and AAPL offers Leadership in Time of Crisis community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Accreditation Canada: Accreditation Canada (formerly CCHSA) operates Qmentum, an international hospital accreditation program with growing presence in the Middle East and other regions where GHA also operates.
• Joint Commission International: JCI is the dominant global hospital accreditation body, accrediting hundreds of hospitals worldwide including many of the same medical travel destinations (e.g., Bumrungrad) that GHA serves. It is the primary direct competitor in medical travel accreditation.
• DNV Healthcare: DNV provides hospital accreditation and certification services globally, including ISO-based healthcare quality programs. It competes with GHA for hospital accreditation mandates, particularly in Europe and emerging markets.
• NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance): NCQA is a major US-based healthcare quality accreditation body that has expanded into international markets. It addresses overlapping themes of healthcare quality measurement and organizational certification.

Direct peers

• ACHC (Accreditation Commission for Health Care): ACHC is a US-based accreditor offering hospital, ambulatory, and specialty program accreditation with international expansion. It targets similar healthcare organization customers seeking third-party quality validation.
• URAC: URAC accredits healthcare organizations across specialty programs including telehealth, wellness, and case management — areas that overlap with GHA's Telehealth Accreditation and other specialty programs.

Regional players

• COHSASA (Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa): COHSASA accredits hospitals across Africa and has ISQua accreditation. It addresses similar medical travel and healthcare quality needs in a defined geographic region where GHA also has partners.

Others

• International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua): ISQua is the body that accredits GHA's own standards. While not a competitor, ISQua shapes the global healthcare accreditation ecosystem and is a key ecosystem counterpart that defines the standards landscape GHA operates within.

Emerging players

• Planetree International: Planetree focuses on patient-centered care certification and is identified as a GHA partner. It is an adjacent accreditor in the patient experience domain that overlaps with GHA's core Patient Experience competency.
• Medical Tourism Association: Medical Tourism Association promotes and develops the medical travel industry globally, including events, training, and standards advocacy. It is an ecosystem counterpart rather than a direct accreditation competitor, but operates in the same buyer/seller ecosystem as GHA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-healthcare-accreditation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Healthcare Accreditation