Reid Health receives new quality-based accreditation

Jan. 17, 2023 -- Reid Health has earned accreditation for three years through DNV, a global organization with a certification process that focuses on continual improvement year over year.

By earning accreditation, Reid has demonstrated it meets or exceeds patient safety standards set by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DNV's accreditation program, called NIAHO^® (National Integrated Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations), involves annual hospital surveys -- instead of every three years -- and encourages hospitals to openly share information across departments and to discover improvements in clinical workflows and safety protocols.

The DNV approach is designed to be collaborative and adaptable with a focus on how patient care is impacted.

"We were looking for an accrediting body that brought real value to the process. We were looking for more than a 'check the box' regulatory experience," said Jennifer Ehlers, Vice President/Chief Quality Officer for Reid Health.

"Our intent is to go above and beyond base-level requirements. We want to provide care based on national best practices in the most efficient way possible. DNV uses two sets of standards along with annual visits to ensure we not only meet baseline requirements but are continuously striving for improvement and excellence."

DNV's accreditation program is the only one to integrate Medicare requirements with the internationally recognized ISO 9001 Quality Management System. Reid has three years to achieve compliance with ISO 9001, which is used by performance-driven organizations around the world to advance their quality and sustainability objectives, according to DNV.

"We have taken an entirely different approach to accreditation, and hospitals are really responding," says DNV Healthcare USA Inc. President Kelly Proctor. "Since accreditation is a must-have credential for just about every hospital in this country, why not make it more valuable, and get more out of it? That's where ISO 9001 comes into play and turns the typical get-your-ticket-punched accreditation exercise into a quality transformation."

"Our intent is to go above and beyond base-level requirements. We want to provide care based on national best practices in the most efficient way possible. DNV uses two sets of standards along with annual visits to ensure we not only meet baseline requirements but are continuously striving for improvement and excellence." -- Jennifer Ehlers, Reid Health Vice President/Chief Quality Officer

According to Ehlers, ISO 9001 uses a four-step improvement cycle -- plan, do, check, and act -- coupled with risk-based thinking that allows organizations to identify, prioritize, and manage initiatives in an increasingly dynamic and complex healthcare environment.

"It ensures the organization has the ability to consistently provide care and services that meet customer's expectations and enhance customer satisfaction both now and in the future," she said.

About DNV

DNV is a global independent certification, assurance, and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise, DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry benchmarks, and drives innovative solutions.

Whether certifying a company's management system or products, accrediting hospitals, providing training, or assessing supply chains or digital assets, DNV enables customers and stakeholders to make critical decisions with confidence, continually improve, and realize long-term strategic goals sustainably.

DNV draws on its wide technical and industry expertise to help companies worldwide build consumer and stakeholder trust. Driven by its purpose to safeguard life, property, and the environment, DNV helps tackle the challenges and global transformations facing its customers and the world today and is a trusted voice for many of the world's most successful and forward-thinking companies.

For more information about DNV, visit dnvcert.com/healthcare.