AUTHOR=Köckerling Ferdinand , Berger Dieter , Jost Johannes O. TITLE=What is a Certified Hernia Center? The Example of the German Hernia Society and German Society of General and Visceral Surgery JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery VOLUME=1 YEAR=2014 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2014.00026 DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2014.00026 ISSN=2296-875X 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.