# How We Vet Our Partner Clinics: The Astramedica Quality Standard Source: https://astramedica.com/blog/how-astramedica-vets-partner-clinics **Category:** Infrastructure & Standards **Author:** Nora Tolun **Published:** April 5, 2026 **Updated:** April 5, 2026 **Read time:** 8 min read **Tags:** vetting process, quality standards, partner clinics, compliance Patients trust Astramedica to connect them with facilities that meet high standards. That trust is only earned through a rigorous and transparent vetting process. Every partner clinic in the Astramedica network has undergone a structured evaluation covering licensing and accreditation, physician credentials, operational capacity, patient communication standards, and ongoing compliance monitoring. ## Key takeaways - Every partner clinic must pass a multi-stage evaluation before entering the Astramedica network. - Licensing and accreditation status, physician credentials, and patient communication quality are all evaluated independently. - Vetting is not a one-time event — partner clinics are subject to continuous monitoring and periodic re-evaluation. ## Stage 1: Licensing and accreditation verification The first filter is licensing. Every partner clinic must be fully licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health and hold the international health tourism authorization where it applies. For hospital-based procedures such as orthopedic, bariatric, and IVF care, we also look for JCI or equivalent international accreditation and on-site intensive-care access. Astramedica checks these credentials against the issuing body's records, not the facility's self-reported claims. Facilities that cannot show current, verifiable licensing — or, for hospital-based procedures, verifiable accreditation — are not considered for the partner network regardless of other qualities they may offer. ## Stage 2: Physician credentials and specialization depth Beyond facility-level licensing and accreditation, Astramedica evaluates the independent physicians who will oversee patient programs. This includes verifying board certifications, reviewing specialty training backgrounds, assessing case volume in the relevant clinical area, and confirming that the physician maintains good standing with relevant medical authorities. A facility may hold strong accreditation, but if the specific physicians available for a given program do not meet credential standards, the partnership is not extended to that service category. ## Stage 3: Operational and communication assessment Clinical quality without operational reliability creates problems for patients. Astramedica evaluates how a facility manages scheduling, patient intake, communication with international coordination teams, and responsiveness to time-sensitive requests. This stage also assesses the facility's capacity to communicate effectively with English-speaking patients — including the availability of multilingual staff, the clarity of written materials, and the responsiveness of the administrative team to coordination inquiries. ## Stage 4: Continuous monitoring and re-evaluation Entering the partner network is not a permanent status. Astramedica monitors patient feedback, coordination experience quality, and compliance with communication standards on an ongoing basis. Facilities that show declining standards, unresponsive communication, or deviation from agreed protocols face re-evaluation. This continuous monitoring process is what distinguishes structured coordination from a one-time referral. The relationship between Astramedica and its partner clinics is ongoing, documented, and performance-accountable. ## What disqualifies a facility Transparency requires stating not only what qualifies a partner clinic, but also what disqualifies one. Facilities are excluded or removed from the network for reasons including lapsed licensing or accreditation, unverifiable physician credentials, consistent communication failures, undisclosed fee structures, or any practice that conflicts with Astramedica's compliance standards. - Lapsed or unverifiable licensing or accreditation status - Inability to demonstrate board-certified physician oversight for coordinated programs - Persistent communication failures or scheduling unreliability - Non-transparent pricing or undisclosed supplementary fees - Marketing practices that conflict with Astramedica's content compliance standards ## Frequently asked questions ### How many clinics are in the Astramedica partner network? Astramedica maintains a curated network rather than a large directory. The number of partner clinics is intentionally limited to those that meet all vetting criteria across licensing and accreditation, physician credentials, and operational reliability. ### Can patients see the accreditation status of their partner clinic? Yes. Patients can ask the clinic for its Ministry of Health license, and Astramedica encourages them to verify any accreditation independently through the JCI public directory or the relevant accreditation body's website. ### Has Astramedica ever removed a clinic from its network? The vetting process is designed to be ongoing. Facilities that fail to maintain the required standards are subject to re-evaluation and potential removal from the partner network. ### Does Astramedica receive fees from partner clinics? Astramedica operates as a coordination company. The financial relationship between Astramedica and its partner clinics does not influence clinical decisions, which remain with the independent physicians at each facility. ## Related services - [Hair Transplant](https://astramedica.com/services/hair-transplant) - [Dental Implants](https://astramedica.com/services/dental-implants)