Tehran University of Medical Sciences Health Technology Assessment in Action 2645-3835 10 1 2026 05 10 463 463 Farid Gharibi Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran Toba Kazemi Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Maryam Sadat Rahimi Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Masoumeh Ebrahimi Tavani Academic Research Staff Center for Health Network Management, Deputy for Public Health Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), Tehran, Iran Seyed Mohammad Riahi Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Fatemeh Hosseinzadeh Chahkandak ocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Reza Dastjerdi Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Mohammad Reza Khazdair Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Saeede Khosravi Bizhaem Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran Morteza Arab-Zozani Birjand University of Medical Sciences 2025 06 02 2026 05 10 Introduction: Accreditation has become more prevalent across different health system sectors, as it aims to enhance the performance of healthcare facilities. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a national accreditation model for cardiac-pulmonary rehabilitation centers. Methods: This mixed-method study used the literature review, the Delphi technique, and quantitative methods for benchmarking excellent related accreditation models, assessing the extracted standards and measures from excellent models based on expert’s perspective, conducting the pilot study, respectively. During the Delphi stage, 26 experts assessed the developed measures based on “importance” and “feasibility” criteria. The pilot phase of the model included self-assessment, external evaluation, and final improvement of the developed model. Results: The accreditation models employed in the United States, France, and Egypt, as well as those utilized by hospitals, outpatient clinics, and primary care facilities in Iran, were considered reference models. Eleven functional dimensions were met based on benchmarking. The initial design of the model included 11 dimensions, 35 standards, and 263 measures. After eliminating 18 measures and adjusting to 34 others, the final number totaled 245. The mean scores of assessed measures in importance and feasibility criteria were 8.23 and 8.11, respectively. Subsequently, the essential components of the model were identified and developed. The performance score of the assessed rehabilitation center in compliance with standards was estimated at 0.73 and 0.23 in the self-assessment and external survey phase of the pilot study. Conclusion: Given the model’s comprehensiveness and the endorsement it has received from experts and stakeholders, its implementation is anticipated to establish a solid basis for the ongoing enhancement of cardiac-pulmonary rehabilitation centers’ performance. https://htainaction.tums.ac.ir/index.php/hta/article/view/463 https://htainaction.tums.ac.ir/index.php/hta/article/download/463/222