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Forrest General Changes Accreditation Process
Forrest General Hospital has changed its accreditation process, which will result in even more efficient, accurate evaluation of the hospital's services and operations, allowing for continuous improvement. Forrest General is partnering with Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Healthcare, Inc., one of the world's leading accreditation companies, to participate in its National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHO) hospital accreditation program. The hospital has already undergone its first accreditation survey with DNV Healthcare, Inc., and received a clean bill of health!
Under Forrest General's previous accreditation process with the Joint Commission, a team of assessors would visit the hospital once every three years. One of the chief differences with this new system will be the change to a full accreditation survey once every year. Assessments consist of using Tracer Methodology specifically designed for certification evaluations, as well as interviews with staff and patients. Survey teams include a physician or registered nurse, as well as additional surveyors, each with extensive backgrounds in healthcare. Surveyors will assess compliance and also educate hospitals in best practices, further equipping hospitals for success in a rapidly-changing healthcare environment. The NIAHO program, which is the first new hospital accreditation program in the United States in more than four decades, helps healthcare organizations like Forrest General meet their national accreditation obligations and comply with ISO 9001 standards, which is the universally-accepted international standard for a quality management system.
"Forrest General staff and administrators are pleased to partner with DNV on this new accreditation process," said Evan Dillard, Forrest General President and CEO. "The changes that this new process will bring, most notably the shift to an annual review schedule, will give our organization more continuous input into improving our services. The very center of Forrest General's character and culture is the goal of showing how much we care about our patients and their families, and the decision to make this change and implement the great benefits associated with this program is an excellent way to further show that commitment."
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