HKZ certification

Make good care demonstrable

Due to cutbacks, administrative burdens, transitions and changing regulations, the healthcare sector is constantly changing. In this dynamic landscape, an HKZ certification shows that you put the quality of your services on the first place.

HKZ (Harmonization Quality Assessment in the Health Sector) offers the necessary structure to continue focusing on quality within your organization in times of change. DEKRA has an agreement with the Dutch standardization institute NEN for HKZ, and is recognized by the Accreditation Council for certification against HKZ standards. We work with you to examine which HKZ standards are applicable to your organization and whether the processes are designed adequately to meet them. Our assessment is efficient and practice-oriented: involving both managers and employees in the audit lets us clearly map out what does and does not work, and where adjustments would be desirable.

Why DEKRA?

To which organizations does the HKZ standard apply?

Where small organizations can punch above their weight

The HKZ standard for Small Organizations is intended specifically for those with up to 10 FTEs. You want to provide quality care as a small healthcare organization, but the bar to complying with the often complex quality standards is high. You want to work pragmatically, but also to be able to demonstrate the quality of the care you provide. The HKZ standard for small organizations is the solution.

The benefits of HKZ Small Organizations
The HKZ certification scheme for small organizations has been developed specifically for organizations with only one branch and a maximum of 10 FTEs. Issues irrelevant to a small organization have thus been removed from the scheme, making the HKZ standard feasible for these organizations as well. Naturally all the core activities are addressed, and HKZ Small Organizations is also about aiming for maximum quality and safety. The daily working method, client experiences and the continuous improvement of care are therefore central.

DEKRA understands care
Our auditors have a background in healthcare and know how it works. They carry out an independent audit, but involve your organization intensively. This way we know for sure that the responsibility for quality is carried not just by management, but also by your employees.

More about certification
The scheme has been approved by the Accreditation Council, the independent supervisor of accreditations, conformity reports and quality marks. This means that certification gives you confirmation from an independent supervisor that you meet the standard. In short: certification provides you with demonstrable benefits that fit seamlessly with a small healthcare organization. For more information on DEKRA’s approach, please click here to view the process explanation on our website.

HKZ Small Organizations factsheet download (PDF, 3 MB)

One HKZ standard for the entire care and welfare sector

The HKZ standard for Care and Welfare is a general quality management standard and is thus suitable for all types of organizations in the care and welfare sector. The changes in the Long-Term Care Act (Wlz) and the Social Support Act (Wmo) could have caused your care provision to change. The HKZ standard for Care and Welfare lets you demonstrate that your quality is still in order.

Learn and improve
The HKZ Healthcare and Welfare certification scheme clearly identifies any risks at the organizational and process level. This lets you identify areas for improvement quickly, rather than spending time on huge quality manuals and plans. The standard is based on the philosophy of ISO 9001, but adapted to the healthcare sector. For example, the requirements are aligned fully with current themes such as client control, collaboration with internal and external chain partners, and shared decision-making. Many clients, such as insurance companies and the government, make the HKZ certificate mandatory. But this quality test is intended mainly as a motivation towards continuous learning and improvement, which is to the benefit of every organization!

People Based Auditing at HKZ Zorg en Welzijn
In our audit process we always pay attention to the human factor. They determine how they implement the processes, systems and working methods. We call our working method People Based Auditing, a standard added value to our audits for HKZ Zorg en Welzijn. Read more about People Based Auditing here .

Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg (GGZ, mental healthcare)
Gehandicaptenzorg (GZ, disabled care)
Huisartsendienstenstructuren (GP services structures)
Jeugdzorg (JZ, youth care)
Openbare Apotheken (OA, public pharmacies)
Reclassering (rehabilitation)
Verpleeg- en Verzorgingshuizen en Thuiszorginstellingen (VV&T, nursing and care homes, and residential care agencies)
Welzijn en Maatschappelijke Dienstverlening (WMD, welfare and social services sector)

What is the difference between the various HKZ standards?

Certification type	HKZ Small Organizations	HKZ Industry specific	HKZ Healthcare and Welfare
Accreditation body	Raad van Accreditatie (RvA) Dutch Accreditation Council	Raad van Accreditatie (RvA) Dutch Accreditation Council	Raad van Accreditatie (RvA) Dutch Accreditation Council
Orientation	Dutch, specifically for practices and organizations up to 10 FTEs	Dutch	Sector-specific schemes in Healthcare and Welfare
For which sectors?	Healthcare and Welfare	Sector-specific schemes in Healthcare and Welfare	Healthcare and Welfare
Certificate validity	3 years	3 years	3 years
Audit frequency	Annually	Annually or semi-annually	Annually or semi-annually
Auditors	Subject matter expert in the relevant industry	Subject matter expert in the relevant industry	Subject matter expert in the related industries
Details	Primarily suitable for start-up or small organizations or practices	Generic standard that includes all basic requirements of a quality management system.	Primary requirements from the governance code. Safety culture is a common thread throughout the standard.