The Accreditation Journey for a Hospital in the Developing World

Vinmec Times City International Hospital is the first organization in Vietnam to receive certification from both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP) and Joint Commission International, marking a significant turning point in Vietnam's approach to health care quality control. This article shares our journey toward CAP accreditation, offering insights from a laboratory in a developing nation. The data sources include documentation of our laboratory's experiences during 2 years (2020-2022), illustrating the collaborative work and achievements in preparing for the first inspection of the CAP LAP, alongside prior discussions and commitments (2018-2020) to develop our plan. By working as a cohesive team of pathologists and staff, with a well-thought-out plan and strong support from the hospital's executive leadership and administrative team, Vinmec Times City International Hospital in Hanoi was able to take the initial steps toward achieving and maintaining an international standard in laboratory quality management.