
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.