Case Studies - Priscare Advisory

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Xinhua Hospital

Jinglang International Medical Department

Why This Project Mattered

Xinhua Hospital's Jinglang International Medical Department was established to serve a growing population of international patients and expatriate families in the Shanghai region. For this department, international accreditation was not merely a quality initiative — it was a strategic requirement. DNV DIAS accreditation would provide the internationally recognized quality signal needed to participate in global insurance networks and build trust with referring physicians abroad.

At the same time, this was a pioneering undertaking. Very few hospital departments in mainland China had pursued DNV's international accreditation pathway, which meant there was limited local precedent to draw on. The project required a consulting partner who understood both the DNV standards framework and the practical realities of operating within China's healthcare system.

What We Did

Priscare Advisory served as the hospital's end-to-end accreditation consulting partner, guiding the department from initial standards orientation through to a successful accreditation survey. Our work spanned the full arc of preparation:

Standards Orientation & Gap Assessment

We began with a structured review of DNV DIAS requirements against the department's existing policies and clinical workflows, identifying where current practice already aligned and where focused development was needed.

Standard Localization

International accreditation standards must be interpreted in the context of local regulations and clinical practice. We worked closely with clinical and administrative teams to translate DNV requirements into actionable, locally appropriate protocols — ensuring compliance without disrupting established care delivery.

Bilingual Documentation Framework

Given the department's international patient population, we helped establish a documentation infrastructure that functions in both Chinese and English — from clinical policies and procedures to quality management records. This bilingual framework was designed not just for the survey, but as a sustainable operational tool.

Clinical Workflow Mapping

We conducted detailed mapping of patient-facing clinical workflows to ensure that accreditation requirements were embedded in day-to-day practice, rather than existing only on paper. This included aligning nursing, physician, and support service processes with DNV's patient safety and quality expectations.

Mock Tracer Exercises

In the months leading up to the survey, we facilitated mock Tracer methodology exercises — simulating the DNV surveyor's patient-tracing approach across clinical departments. These exercises helped staff internalize accreditation expectations and identified remaining gaps in a low-stakes environment.

Survey Preparation & Readiness Review

As the survey date approached, we conducted a comprehensive readiness review, working with department leadership to ensure that all documentation, staff competencies, and operational processes met the threshold for a successful first survey.

The Outcome

The Jinglang International Medical Department successfully achieved DNV DIAS accreditation, making it among the first hospital departments in mainland China to earn this international recognition. The first accreditation survey was passed with the quality management infrastructure fully in place.

Beyond the accreditation itself, the engagement established a foundation for sustained quality performance — including an internal audit capability, a bilingual documentation system, and a continuous improvement culture aligned with DNV's annual survey model. The department now operates with the quality infrastructure to maintain its accredited status and pursue further development.

Selected Engagements