Accreditation Canada (AC) Diagnostics is proud to recognize Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services for becoming the first provincial health authority to achieve ISO 15189 Plus™ accreditation for medical imaging services across all its 42 locations. Being the first province in Canada to achieve this national benchmark is the result of the health authority’s commitment to delivering safe, consistent, and high quality diagnostic services for patients across Newfoundland and Labrador.

In 2023, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador made the pivotal decision to mandate this program, with all 42 locations undergoing on-site assessments in the fall of 2024 setting a benchmark for quality and consistency.

The ISO 15189 Plus™ program has been instrumental in transforming medical imaging across the province: clarifying roles, empowering staff, and establishing a structured framework that drives measurable improvements in patient care. This quality management approach has helped cultivate a culture of safety and accountability within diagnostic teams.

According to Tony Poole, senior provincial director of Medical Imaging at NL Health Services, one of the most valuable aspects of the AC Diagnostics ISO 15189 Plus™ program is active involvement of front-line staff in the accreditation process. “Staff now feel more connected to the accreditation process or its impact on patient care. The AC Diagnostics accreditation program brings everyone together. This will help us build consistency, strengthen engagement, and embed high standards in every patient interaction.”

Tony emphasizes that the accreditation program helps break down silos and gives management a broader, more inclusive perspective on quality. He notes that the ISO 15189 Plus™ program recognizes the distinct needs of different facilities, “Risk, continuous improvement, and quality indicators require adaptation for our different sites. So, it really allows us to develop processes differently for our urban and rural sites, engaging local staff members and targeting the process specifically for them.” 

NL Health Services has set a benchmark in advancing diagnostic services with all diagnostic imaging services in the province now accredited under the ISO 15189 Plus™ Program. 

Congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment!

For a complete list of AC Diagnostics accredited facilities, click here