Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center’s ISO implementation team includes, from left, Joanne Stopfel, Cheryl O’Brien, Steve Krauz, Kim Holmes, McBride and Bill Nelson.

OGDENSBURG -- Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center has achieved ISO 9001 (International Organization for Standardization) certification through DNV-GL Healthcare. Claxton-Hepburn is one out of six hospitals in New York state to hold the certification.

“Basically ISO is an evidence-based standardization process that was developed for the manufacturing field to reduce errors, increase output and produce high quality items,” according to CHMC spokesperson Michele Catlin. “It’s emphasis is on using the correct process and items necessary to perform the task and ensure that the proper things, policies and procedures being used are up to date to ensure the best possible high-quality outcomes at all times and reducing unnecessary waste.”

DNV-GL Healthcare is similar to The Joint Commission in that it has authority to accredit hospitals. There are 21 hospitals in New York who have selected DNV-GL Healthcare as their accrediting agency.

Although there are many types of ISO 9001 certifications, DNV-GL Healthcare is the first to integrate its ISO 9001 with the accreditation process. The accreditation process assures hospitals are compliant with Medicare and state healthcare regulations, CHMC said.

ISO prevents the hospital from accessing outdated policies, forms and references. It assures follow up to corrective actions and focuses on improvement, according to CHMC.

“Claxton-Hepburn has worked diligently to achieve this certification. The ISO standards are embedded in everything that we do every day to continuously improve. We are very proud of this accomplishment and the high standards of healthcare we are providing for our community,” said Peppy McBride, director of performance improvement at Claxton-Hepburn.