The development of ISO 9002 quality management standards for Canadian dental practices

Area of Science:

• Dental Quality Assurance
• Healthcare Management
• ISO Standards in Dentistry

Background:

• The Hospital for Sick Children's dentistry department has a long-standing quality assurance system since the early 1980s.
• Department members have extensive experience in risk management and quality assurance education and publication.
• A strategic decision was made to pursue ISO 9002 registration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the ISO registration system.
• To outline the adaptation of ISO standards for Canadian institutional dental practice.
• To detail the changes needed for an existing quality assurance program to meet ISO requirements.

Main Methods:

• An intensive 10-month process was undertaken.
• Existing quality assurance systems were adapted to ISO 9002 standards.
• The ISO registration system was implemented within the dental department.

Main Results:

• The department successfully navigated the process of adapting to ISO systems.
• Specific changes were identified and implemented to conform to ISO standards.
• The adaptation process integrated ISO requirements into the existing quality assurance framework.

Conclusions:

• Achieving ISO 9002 registration required significant adaptation of existing quality assurance programs.
• The process involved a comprehensive review and modification of practices to meet international standards.
• This initiative demonstrates a commitment to enhancing quality in institutional dental care through standardized systems.