A recent webinar hosted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) emphasized the the role of accreditation across various stakeholder groups, sectors, and processes tied to health and social care industries. The June 9 event helped mark World Accreditation Day 2015, a global celebration promoted each year by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
A number of experts participated in the free event, and spoke on behalf of this year's World Accreditation Day theme, "Accreditation: Supporting the Delivery of Health and Social Care." Expert panelists included Scott Colburn, director of CDRH Standards Program for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who described how standards play a major role in the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act (FADMA), and explained how they help ensure safe and effective medical devices and other health care products are available, among other key points.
Sharon Stanford, director of standards administration at the American Dental Association (ADA), informed stakeholders why the ADA supports ANSI accreditation, noting that it provides assurance that "standards accurately represent the prevailing science and technology in the field," and explaining that "standards provide appropriate requirements for safety and effectiveness facilitating the improvement and quality of oral health and the safety of dental care."
Panelist Kathy Abusow, president and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), explained that SFI has a relevant standard to support responsible forestry at every point in the supply chain. She emphasized how SFI is reliant on accreditation bodies to accredit certification bodies which then certify conformance with these standards, stating that SFI relies on the International Accreditation Forum structure and processes.
A full lineup of panelists and more information on the webinar can be found here. A copy of the webinar presentation can be found here.
About World Accreditation Day
World Accreditation Day is a global initiative jointly established by IAF and ILAC to raise awareness of the value of accreditation-related activities. Each year on June 9, IAF and ILAC invite their national representatives from around the world to mark the occasion with dedicated celebrations that honor and communicate the important role accreditation plays in the global standards and conformance community.