What is the voluntary process called when an organization assesses its quality against recognized standards?

The voluntary process where an organization evaluates its quality against recognized standards is known as accreditation. Accreditation involves a thorough assessment by an external body that verifies whether an organization meets specific criteria and standards of excellence. This process not only provides a means of validation but also facilitates quality improvement by encouraging organizations to adhere to recognized best practices and continuous quality management.

In the context of healthcare and sterile processing, accreditation serves to ensure that facilities meet the necessary regulations and standards for safe and effective operations. This can include compliance with industry guidelines related to sterilization, safety, and operational protocols. Through this evaluation, organizations can maintain credibility and strive for higher performance outcomes, which ultimately benefits patient care and safety.

While certification is related to recognizing individuals or systems, and benchmarking involves comparing processes or performance metrics against others, these terms do not specifically refer to the comprehensive evaluation process associated with accreditation. Rather, they focus on different aspects of quality and performance assessment.