The Journey and Benefits of Obtaining ISO 9001 Certification
Douglas Hewitt, Elizabeth Musick, Kristy Tansey, Peter J. PronovostIntroduction:
University Hospitals transformed its quality strategy by transitioning to Det Norske Veritas accreditation and seeking International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 certification to support its zero-harm framework and establish a sustainable quality management system.
Intervention:
Through standardized governance, leadership engagement, risk-based thinking, internal auditing, and an ISO 9001 implementation toolkit, hospitals embedded continuous readiness, accountability, and improvement into daily operations while aligning board-level oversight with frontline practice.
Closing gaps:
Det Norske Veritas accreditation and ISO 9001 certification are not well-known models in the United States. This journey describes implementation of a scalable model, moving beyond episodic compliance to continuous learning and improvement.