Projects & Initiatives

Accreditation of DSM Facilities

The external review of DSM facilities through an accreditation process conducted by a regulating/certifying body provides official recognition of DSM’s compliance with national and international standards. Accredited facilities are recognized as providing safe care and abiding by best practices and regulations. Accreditation of DSM laboratories and imaging centres provides public confidence in our services and also recognizes the efforts of staff in ensuring that standards are met and exceeded.

Although accreditation itself is very important, it is the underlying elements of accreditation that matter most: Patient Safety, Accuracy, Efficiency and Quality. Together, these elements paint a picture of the excellent service for which DSM strives to provide everyday.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) is responsible for accreditation of Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging facilities in Manitoba under the Manitoba Quality Assurance program (MANQAP).

DSM has fostered a cooperative working relationship with CPSM and MANQAP, which includes development of new and improved accreditation processes and protocols. Since 2004, MANQAP has been working toward updating survey standards to be in line with national and international expectations for quality in laboratory processes. DSM continues to work with CPSM and MANQAP to ensure a streamlined and comprehensive accreditation program that will hold Manitoba’s labs to the highest standards of quality and safety.

In 2007, 2008 and 2009, MANQAP has performed more than 100 individual surveys in lab, DI and transfusion medicine at 56 facilities in both rural and urban environments.

College of American Pathologists (CAP) Accreditation

In addition to being MANQAP accredited, DSM's Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital sited laboratories also have the elite distinction of being accredited by the College of American Pathologists. The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP) is the most respected and recognized accreditation program in the world. Due to the complex and sophisticated processes and large scope of services offered at these sites, MANQAP made the decision to partner with CAP to conduct these accreditation surveys.

The quality and integrity of the CAP LAP makes it a ‘gold standard’ in clinical laboratory processes and the CAP Accreditation designation of DSM’s HSC and SBH laboratories is an important acknowledgement that our diagnostic services are meeting lab standards and complying with safety regulations. The CAP endorsement recognizes the critical importance that DSM places on the quality of laboratory services that are provided to Manitobans.

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