Designing two models for comprehensive center of excellence and center of excellence in the field of medical sciences in Iran

Background: Despite exist several centers of excellence in the various medical field in the country, most of them lack a single procedure and organizational structures in their functioning, organizing, targeting, etc. So the study aimed to design an organizational model that meets the goals and mission of them in the field of medical sciences. Methods: This qualitative and applied research was conducted in two comparative and analytical stages from May 2016 to February 2017 in Iran. The location of the study includes a university, research institute, health center, or research center known as a center of excellence. In the analytical stage, 10 experts and managers of the top centers were selected through a targeted sampling method as a study sample. In the comparative section, all 50 centers of excellence and similar specimens in the world were selected. The data collection tool was a semi-structured interview in the analytical section and the ministry of health's documents. In comparative section data, bases and official sites of the centers were analyzed. Results: The term "center of excellence" for units that play a role in one or two of the three dimensions of education, research, and treatment, and the term "comprehensive center of excellence" for a unit that plays a role in all three dimensions, in addition to knowledge management have been agreed upon. Seven missions (national and international) for the comprehensive center of excellence and five different missions for center of excellence were formulated. The role of the ministry of health in the guidance of these centers was agreed in the seven items. Ultimately, the macro model of organizing "comprehensive centers of excellence" and "centers of excellence" at the university level and ministry of health level was designed and presented. Conclusion: Correcting the governance structure of these centers in ministry, unit command at the highest level of management by reorganizing of duties, the authority of High Council for the Center of Excellences and the establishment of a systematic relationship between ministry and vices are the part of the requirements for fulfilling the roles and mission of center of excellence.