Việt Nam
中文
Dermatology
Standards
14 mandatory professional standards applied to all
specialized dermatology clinics nationwide.
Dermatology clinics must fully meet standards ranging from physical infrastructure to clinical procedures and radiation safety.
Standards List
14 Mandatory Professional Standards
for Dermatology Clinics
Infrastructure & Facilities
Consultation room ≥ 10m², separate procedure room ≥ 12m². Ventilation, lighting, and environment must meet medical standards.
- Consultation room ≥ 10m², width ≥ 2.5m
- Procedure room ≥ 12m², no direct access to waiting room
- Ventilation ≥ 6 air changes per hour (ACH)
- Lighting ≥ 300 lux at the examination table
- Clean water compliance with QCVN 02:2009/BYT
- Disabled accessibility compliant with TCVN 4513
Professional Human Resources
≥1 Dermatologist (Specialist Level I/II) with a valid practicing certificate. Continuous medical education (CME) ≥ 48 hours/2 years.
- 6-year Medical Degree + Specialist Degree Level I/II in Dermatology
- Practicing certificate within the correct scope of practice
- ≥ 18 months of clinical experience
- Nurses with proper professional qualifications
- Continuous medical education ≥ 48 hours/2 years
- Training on medical record confidentiality
Medical Equipment
365nm Wood’s lamp, polarized dermatoscope ≥ 10x, examination lighting ≥ 1000 lux. Inspection under Decree 36/2016.
- 365nm UV Wood’s lamp
- Dermatoscope ≥ 10x with cross-polarized light
- Illumination ≥ 1000 lux at the examination area
- Complete set of minor surgery instruments
- Medical refrigerator (2–8°C) with monitoring system
- Periodic medical equipment calibration and inspection
Sterilization & Infection Control
Autoclave 134°C/3 mins. Weekly Bacillus biological indicator test. Proper waste classification according to regulations.
- Autoclave 134°C/3 mins or 121°C/15 mins
- Weekly Bacillus biological indicator testing
- Sterile packs shelf-life ≤ 30 days
- 0.05% Chlorine disinfection after each patient
- Waste segregation into correct color-coded bags
- Contract for hazardous medical waste disposal
Skin Disease Diagnosis
Standardized ABCDE criteria. Mandatory dermatoscope when malignancy is suspected. ≥ 3 differential diagnoses.
- Comprehensive and systematic medical history taking
- Full examination of skin, mucosa, nails, and hair
- Lesion description following ABCDE criteria
- Differentiation between primary and secondary lesions
- Mandatory dermatoscope use if malignancy is suspected
- ≥ 3 differential diagnoses for atypical cases
Dermatological Testing
Performed on-site or through affiliated referral labs with full provision of necessary specialized tests.
- KOH 10–20% direct smear for fungal examination
- Wood’s lamp examination, scabies prep, Tzanck smear
- 3–4mm punch biopsy
- European Baseline Patch Test (30 allergens)
- Bacterial culture + antibiotic susceptibility test (AST)
- IgE, RAST, ANA testing when clinically indicated
Medical Prescriptions
Prescribe according to MOH guidelines. Clearly state active ingredients, concentration, and application area. Strictly control corticosteroids.
- Corticosteroids classified under groups I–VII with proper indications
- Do not prescribe topical corticosteroids on the face for > 2 consecutive weeks
- Retinoids: absolute contraindication during pregnancy
- Isotretinoin: mandatory baseline liver function and lipid panel tests
- Second-generation antihistamines preferred for daytime use
- Antibiotics selected based on susceptibility test results
Procedural Treatment
Procedure room ≥ 12m², lighting ≥ 10,000 lux. Anaphylaxis kit checked monthly. Mandatory informed consent.
- Anaphylaxis shock kit inspected monthly
- Biopsies: punch, shave, excisional
- Excision and suturing of sebaceous cysts, lipomas, small vascular tumors
- NB-UVB 311nm: psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema
- Cryotherapy (N₂), electrocautery, chemical peels as licensed
- Informed consent signed before any invasive procedure
Medical Records
Stored for ≥ 10 years using MOH templates. Encrypted data with dual backups. Confidentiality under the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023.
- Diagnosis coded according to ICD-10
- Clinical photography of lesions when applicable
- Retention ≥ 10 years (Pediatric: 15 years after turning 18)
- Data encryption + dual backups at separate physical locations
- No record disclosure without explicit patient consent
- Patients retain the right to copy records under Article 9 of the Law
Health Counseling
Disease-specific brochures, QR-coded materials, appointment reminders via Zalo/SMS. Guidelines for SPF ≥ 30 and recurrence prevention.
- Explain medical conditions in accessible, lay language
- Provide detailed instructions for each type of medication
- Educate on red flags requiring immediate follow-up
- Advise on sun protection, allergen avoidance, and stress management
- Daily application of broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF ≥ 30
- Follow-up appointment reminders sent via SMS / Zalo
Quality Management
Periodic KPIs, PDCA cycles for continuous improvement, incident reporting under Circular 43/2018. Patient satisfaction survey every 6 months.
- On-schedule follow-up rate ≥ 80%
- 30-day post-procedure complication rate < 2%
- Patient satisfaction score ≥ 4.0 / 5
- Patient waiting time < 30 minutes
- PDCA cycle implementation for process improvement
- Adverse event and incident reporting under Circular 43/2018
Complication Management & Emergency Response
Fully stocked emergency kit, drills performed ≥ 1 time/year. Anaphylaxis protocol compliant with Circular 51/2017.
- Epinephrine 1mg/ml ≥ 4 ampoules
- NaCl 0.9% × 2, sterile IV administration sets
- Ambu bag, oxygen masks, endotracheal tubes
- Epi 0.3–0.5mg IM (thigh) immediately upon shock recognition
- Activate EMS (Call 115) following initial stabilization
- Mandatory emergency response drills for all staff ≥ 1 time/year
Laser Radiation Safety
Warning signs, smoke evacuators for CO2/Er:YAG. Protective eyewear with correct OD and wavelength. Inspection under Decree 142/2020.
- Warning signs + active indicator lights during operation
- Mandatory smoke evacuators for CO2 / Er:YAG lasers
- Protective eyewear with proper OD for both physician + patient
- Nd:YAG protective eyewear ≠ CO2 eyewear
- Annual radiation safety calibration and inspection
- Laser logbook: date, patient, parameters, operator
Infection Prevention
Standard Precautions mandatory for all patients. 3-dose HBV vaccination for all staff. HIV PEP < 72 hours.
- WHO 6-step hand hygiene before/after patient contact
- Gloves when exposing to blood, body fluids, or open lesions
- Surgical masks; N95 masks if respiratory infection is suspected
- Contact Precautions: scabies, shingles (zona), herpes simplex
- 3-dose HBV vaccination series + post-vaccine anti-HBs testing
- Exposure management < 2 hours, HIV PEP initiated < 72 hours
About the Standards
The Foundation of Specialized
Medical Quality
These standards are built upon international recommendations and Vietnamese legal frameworks, ensuring the utmost safety for patients and healthcare professionals.