Health Certification in Canada: The Key Role of Accreditation Canada International

In a world where health systems face unprecedented challenges—from integrating artificial intelligence to managing workforce shortages and global health risks—the pursuit of quality and safety is more critical than ever. At the heart of this pursuit is a major Canadian organization with a global reach: Accreditation Canada (AC). As a leader in improving the quality of care, AC and its affiliated organizations, the Health Standards Organization (HSO) and the Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH), are working toward an ambitious vision: to deliver safer care for a healthier world. This article explores in depth the role, programs, and impact of Accreditation Canada, an institution shaping the future of healthcare certification in Canada and internationally. What is Accreditation Canada and its global mission? Founded over 65 years ago, Accreditation Canada is much more than just an assessment body. It is an organization that empowers healthcare stakeholders worldwide to commit to a process of continuous quality improvement. Its mission is to support health and social service organizations in their efforts to comply with rigorous national and global standards. Accreditation Canada’s ecosystem is based on three pillars: The Health Standards Organization (HSO): As Canada’s only Standards Development Organization (SDO) entirely dedicated to health, HSO develops the standards, assessment programs, and solutions that are now adopted in more than 12,500 facilities across five continents. These global standards are recognized by international bodies such as the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua). Accreditation Canada (AC): AC is the operational arm that implements these standards on the ground. Through specialized accreditation and certification programs, AC helps organizations assess their performance, identify gaps, and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality care for specific populations and conditions.

Together, these three organizations work together to provide a comprehensive approach to quality improvement, impacting more than 50 million lives through their initiatives.

The 2022–2026 Strategy: Toward Safer Care

In light of the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, Accreditation Canada and HSO have defined a clear strategy for the period 2022–2026, guided by a shared vision:

Focus on user and workforce safety

Safety is the top priority. Accreditation Canada is addressing this issue on several fronts, in accordance with the World Health Organization’s Global Patient Safety Action Plan.

Strengthening Standards and Practices

In 2023, nearly 20 new or updated standards and Required Organizational Practices (ROPs) were published. These updates address critical areas such as:

• Clinical governance and suicide prevention.
• Long-term care, mental health, and substance use disorders.
• Key OORs on medication management, hand hygiene, fall prevention, and infection prevention.

For example, the now more rigorous Distinction – Stroke program focuses on outcomes and quality measurement to recognize excellence in integrated stroke care systems.

Workforce safety: A prerequisite for quality care

AC recognizes that there is no such thing as quality care without a healthy and skilled workforce. Faced with the global workforce crisis, marked by burnout and violence, AC is taking concrete action. The HSO Universal Workforce Survey is a unique tool that measures work-life quality and safety culture. Tested with over 10,000 respondents, this survey generates actionable data to improve staff well-being, an issue directly linked to the quality of care provided. Its global rollout will enable comparisons and the sharing of best practices to collectively address this crisis.

Innovation for Integrated Care

Integrated care aims to ensure that services follow the individual, creating a seamless and safe journey across the continuum of care. AC and HSO are at the forefront of this transformation, notably through their global standard on Integrated, Person-Centered Healthcare Systems. This standard offers evidence-based guidance, organized around 10 guiding principles, to help organizations in their integration journey, whether in rural or urban settings. Tools such as the Care Pathways Implementation Tool help interdisciplinary teams break down this complex journey into manageable steps. Technological innovation is also a key driver of this integration. In 2023, AC awarded its highest level of accreditation to Saudi Arabia’s first fully virtual hospital, the SEHA Virtual Hospital (SVH). This required the co-creation of a personalized and entirely virtual assessment methodology, demonstrating AC’s flexibility and adaptability in responding to new care models.

Promoting Equity and Community Health

Accreditation Canada's commitment extends beyond hospital walls to address the social determinants of health and promote equity.

Cultural Safeguarding and Humility

In collaboration with Indigenous partners such as the First Nations Health Authority, AC led a project to promote cultural safeguarding and humility.

This work made it possible to test a standard in British Columbia and confirmed the need for a National Standard of Canada to address systemic racism against Indigenous people in health care.

Improving Care for Seniors and Mental Health

In response to the tragic lessons of the pandemic, HSO released the new National Standard of Canada for Long-Term Care in January 2023. This standard, which sets a new benchmark for high-quality, resident-centered care, has received international attention and was highlighted in a World Health Organization report.

Similarly, two new National Standards of Canada on Mental Health and Addictions Services and Suicide Prevention were released. They provide a roadmap for delivering safe, coordinated, and person-centered care in this critical sector.

Accreditation Canada's International Impact

With a presence in over 40 countries and 12,500 facilities, Accreditation Canada is a leading global player. The organization is recognized for its personalized, patient-centered, and improvement-focused approach, which is tailored to local needs.

In 2023, AC expanded its programs in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Special projects, such as the one with the Dubai Health Authority to transform ambulance services, demonstrate how AC goes beyond traditional accreditation to improve the overall performance of health systems. In Morocco, a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health aims to strengthen capacity for quality improvement nationwide.

The impact of accreditation is tangible. A case study published by Qatar's Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) demonstrated how the accreditation process with Accreditation Canada led to the creation of a robust user engagement framework, integrating their perspectives into the very design of health services. Global Leadership and Future Prospects: As a leader, Accreditation Canada has a responsibility to anticipate changes and prepare its partners for the future. The organization actively participates in major international forums and collaborates with organizations such as the WHO, the World Bank, and the Standards Council of Canada on future-oriented topics like artificial intelligence. Leslee Thompson, CEO of HSO and Accreditation Canada, launched a series of articles to define what “Health Quality 5.0” could be—a new approach adapted to current challenges such as the labor crisis and climate change. For the coming years, the goals are clear: Launch the Qmentum Global program and its new tools. Expand the Universal Workforce Survey globally. Update 16 PORs, including those on workplace violence prevention.

In conclusion, Accreditation Canada and its affiliates are not merely assessors, but catalysts for change. They are building a global movement for better quality care, bringing together thousands of specialists, visitors, partners, and people with lived experience. Quality, as the organization reminds us, is a team effort. By uniting everyone’s efforts and providing the tools necessary for continuous improvement, Accreditation Canada does more than just issue certifications; it actively contributes to building a future where safer healthcare and a healthier world are a reality for all.