MICHIGAN CITY | On Tuesday, WorkingWell became the first occupational health provider in the world to receive ISO 9001:2008 certification, an accreditation recognizing the program's compliance with quality standards set by the International Organization for Standardizations.
WorkingWell, a division of The Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, provides occupational health care services for professional and industrial workers in Northwest Indiana, with services ranging from wellness and education to rehabilitation.
Tim Ross, regional administrative director of WorkingWell received a certificate and plaque Tuesday at the WorkingWell facility in Michigan City for the program's accreditation.
"Our team takes great pride in this credential," Ross said. "This constitutes a key milestone for WorkingWell."
The ISO is the world's largest developer of international standards, providing businesses and manufacturers with a quality management system they must meet to become certified. Ross said WorkingWell is the first in its field to receive the certification.
Chris Vanni, regional manager of performance improvement at The Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, said WorkingWell first became interested in certification in February in order to maintain its vision of providing high-quality occupational health care to workers. The program underwent a rigorous audit of its quality management system, conducted by Perry Johnson Registrars Inc.
"Manufacturers understand ISO," Vanni said. "This is a pledge to them that we'll have high-quality service for them."
Ross said the certification signifies WorkingWell's dedication to ensure the effectiveness of all documented processes, to improve outcomes and reduce errors and to guarantee maximum customer satisfaction for all who go through the program.
"It's a huge accomplishment to be the first in the world," Ross said. "(To be ISO certified) is common in manufacturing. We deal with manufacturing on a daily basis. Because of who we are and what we do, we wanted to provide the best service to our business communities."
