IPRO Awarded ISO 9001:2000 Certification, Demonstrating Commitment To Quality Management

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- IPRO announced today that its offices in Lake Success and Albany, New York have been certified to the ISO 9001:2000 standard by SGS International Services, Inc. (SGS ICS).

The voluntary certification indicates that IPRO meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2000 for the provision of health care services, including the design, development and implementation of Medicare and Medicaid quality improvement and assessment activities; data collection, analysis and validation; special studies; and consulting services. IPRO's certification is valid through December 9, 2006.

"As one of the nation's largest independent health care quality improvement organizations, we feel it is important to demonstrate to our customers that IPRO's internal quality management systems have withstood the scrutiny of a rigorous external review," says Theodore O. Will, Chief Executive Officer, IPRO. "We are proud to be among the vanguard of health care organizations that have undergone ISO's internationally recognized certification process."

IPRO is one of only 36 health care companies in the United States to be registered to the ISO standard. Although more than 16,600 companies in the U.S. and Canada are registered to the ISO 9001:2000 standard, ISO certification is relatively new to the health care field.

ISO 9001:2000 is an international quality management standard and framework for business-to-business dealings, focusing on meeting customer quality and applicable regulatory requirements, enhancing customer satisfaction and continually improving business performance from the initial contracting stage through the delivery of service. ISO certification guarantees IPRO's customers that a quality management system is in place, facilitating better systems processes and cost-effective management of the company. The implemented management framework helps identify any system gaps, provides a strong foundation for system improvement and assists in organizational compliance with other accreditation programs.

"IPRO is constantly looking at ways to improve, so that our customer services are most consistent, cost-effective and efficient," states Tierre Jeanne, Vice President of Planning and Quality, IPRO. "ISO certification validates that IPRO's quality improvement services go beyond health care business standards."

To obtain ISO 9001:2000 certification, auditors from SGS ICS -- the leading independent registrar providing ISO registration services to health care organizations -- visited IPRO's offices in Lake Success and Albany to obtain objective evidence about its quality management system. SGS conducted staff interviews, reviewed documented procedures and records and observed real-time work processes. Over the next three years of IPRO's certification, SGS will conduct annual audits at IPRO to ensure adherence to the quality management system.

"Gaining certification says a lot about IPRO's dedication to improving business and quality services," comments Laura Prioli, Health Care Service Manager at SGS ICS. "Incorporating the ISO standard ensures that IPRO's customers will continue to benefit from outstanding quality processes in every aspect of service -- this is something to be proud of."

With nearly 20 years' experience in health care quality evaluation, IPRO holds major contracts with state and federal governments to review the cost and quality of services provided to Medicaid recipients, Medicare beneficiaries, and patients enrolled in managed care organizations. Based in Lake Success, New York, IPRO also holds contracts with private-sector clients to improve the quality of privately financed services.

CONTACT: Whitney Wasserman or Dennis Tartaglia, +1-212-481-7000; orSpencer Vibbert, +1-516-326-7767 ext. 652, all for IPRO