The Journey and Benefits of Obtaining ISO 9001 Certification

INTRODUCTION: 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.