HAS asks for the documents your teams already use, not a file built for the visit, and experts-visiteurs read them on your own document system. The criteria name what must exist, from the quality policy and the adverse event procedure to the crisis plan, patient information and data security.
No paperwork for the visit
Experts-visiteurs work from a secured room with at least one computer connected to the establishment's network and document management. Existing printouts such as the livret d'accueil may be handed over, but HAS asks for no printing of documents that are not usually printed.1 In Calista, the establishment shares documents such as its projet d'établissement and organisation chart.2
What the criteria expect to exist
| Document or policy | Criterion in the référentiel 2025 |
|---|---|
| Quality and safety improvement policy | 3.1-01, governance deploys an improvement policy |
| Adverse event declaration and analysis | 3.1-04, impératif, EIGS analysed and declared, volet 2 within 3 months |
| Graduated crisis plan with a digital risk section | 3.1-05, impératif, a crisis cell running within 45 minutes |
| Digital security and patient data | 3.1-07 to 3.1-09, security, identification and data protection |
| Consent and personne de confiance | 1.3-01 and 1.3-02 |
| Patient feedback and complaints | 1.4-01 and 1.4-02, e-Satis and internal surveys |
| Discharge letter | 2.1-14, given to the patient for continuity of care |
| Use of AI and innovative tools | 3.4-06, tools without medical purpose, AI in particular |
- Map documents to criteria. One line per applicable criterion, with the document and where it lives.
- Check each is current and used. A procedure nobody follows shows at the traceur, not in the binder.
- Make them reachable. From the computer HAS will use, on your document system, with access ready on day one.
- Share the core set in Calista. The projet d'établissement, the organisation chart and anything HAS asks for.
- Test with a traceur. Ask a nurse where the adverse event procedure is, then watch where they look.
- Criterion ______ Document ______
- Owner ______ Last reviewed ______
- Where it lives ______ Reachable from the visit computer, yes or no ______
- Last time it was used in practice ______
From 1 January 2027 the référentiel 2027 applies. It keeps most numbering, adds criterion 1.2-07 on telling the patient about any adverse event associated with their care, and moves the content of 3.1-04 into 1.2-07, 2.4-01 and 3.1-03.3
Questions
Should we print everything for the visit?
No. HAS asks for computer access to your document system and no printing of documents that are not usually printed.
Does HAS have a criterion on AI?
Yes. Criterion 3.4-06 covers innovative technological tools without medical purpose used to improve organisation, in particular those using artificial intelligence.
Do the documents change with the référentiel 2027?
The policies stay, and some criteria merge or move. HAS publishes a comparison table from the 2025 to the 2027 version.
Sources
- 1Haute Autorité de santé, 2026Guide méthodologique, Certification des établissements de santé pour la qualité des soins, version 2026Read source
- 2Haute Autorité de santé, 2025Référentiel, Certification des établissements de santé pour la qualité des soins, version 2025Read source
- 3Haute Autorité de santé, 2026Tableau comparatif référentiel 2025 et référentiel 2027Read source
Written by the wai team from Haute Autorité de santé guidance, checked on 16 October 2026. This is guidance, not legal advice. Neither HAS nor any ARS endorses wai or any software.