DNV (Det Norske Veritas) Overview

What is DNV? Det Norske Veritas (“The Norwegian Truth”) or DNV is an accrediting organization for hospitals. DNV helps to ensure the highest levels of excellence in hospital quality and patient safety.

What does DNV do? Through ongoing collaboration and onsite hospital surveys, DNV staff, or “surveyors”, partner with hospitals to observe patient care and interview patients, employees, and volunteers.

Why are DNV surveyors/staff coming to the hospital? Hospitals are not required to seek accreditation; however, UnityPoint Health –Des Moines hospitals voluntarily seek the review. DNV Accreditation assures safe, high quality care is delivered.

How often does DNV visit and survey the hospital? Annually. The DNV survey team usually comes to UnityPoint Health – Des Moines hospitals for one week, sometime in April or May of each year.

What can I expect as a volunteer? If you are volunteering on the day that the DNV survey team is on site, you may be asked questions about what you do in your volunteer work, what to do if you hear a specific code, confidentiality, and infection control (like hand washing). You already know much of this information simply through your new volunteer training, our Volunteer Services handbook, everyday volunteer activities, our newsletters and annual training.