First Company to be Certified in Delivery of Telehealth Services

12 October 2015 ,  —

London

INTERNATIONAL SOS FIRST COMPANY IN WORLD TO BE CERTIFIED IN DELIVERY OF TELEHEALTH SERVICES

International SOS sets Benchmark for Quality, Customer Experience, & Medical Excellence

International SOS is the first organisation in the world to be certified in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) newly published Guidelines for the delivery of telehealth service.¹   The certificate was awarded by BSI (British Standards Institution), the business standards company and a founding member of ISO.

International SOS provides medical and travel security services. Their telehealth services platform provides medical information, advice, and referrals 24/7/365 to clients travelling or working abroad.

Maureen Sumner Smith, Managing Director at BSI UK, said: 
“Telehealth services have become popular amongst organisations as employers look to reduce costs and improve productivity whilst delivering an enhanced quality of care. As a result, the number of companies trying to enter the telehealth space has increased dramatically. The guidelines for the delivery of telehealth services are there to ensure providers deliver consistent, quality remote medical assistance and have policies in place to safeguard a client’s private data.” 

Neil Nerwich, Group Medical Director of Assistance at International SOS, said:
“Our business is providing medical advice and travel security assistance for millions of people around the world. Therefore, it is vital that we employ strict processes to ensure quality in the delivery of telehealth services. We invest heavily in quality programmes and this certification recognises our industry leadership in developing and deploying user-friendly technological solutions and the high standard for medical services across our platform.”  

Organisations are advised to consider the following items when evaluating a telehealth service provider:

• Are the medical professionals trained in remote medicine? 
• Is the provider legally and logistically capable of delivering medical advice and assistance across-borders?
• Is patient information securely stored and transmitted?
• Does the telehealth service have a global network of vetted providers should an in-person medical consult or specialist referral be required?
• Does the provider meet international standards for quality management and clinical governance?

Pietro Foschi, Director, Strategic Delivery, Group Systems Certification & Training at BSI commented:  
“By achieving certification of compliance to ISO/TS 13131, International SOS has demonstrated that it has adopted best practice for its telehealth services, a requirement for delivering safe healthcare from a distance.”

International SOS has provided remote medical services since 1985. In addition to certification in accordance to the guidelines provided in ISO/TS 13131, International SOS has achieved global certification to ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems for its Assistance Centres, International SOS Clinics and Medical Services.
 
For more information about International SOS TeleHealth services, click here. 

[1] ISO/TS 13131:2014 ED1 Health Informatics Telehealth Services Quality Planning Guidelines. The technical specification belongs to a class of standards that provide flexible, general guidelines that support innovation in healthcare. 

About BSI

BSI (British Standards Institution) is the business standards company that equips businesses with the necessary solutions to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence. Formed in 1901, BSI was the world’s first National Standards Body and a founding member of the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO). Over a century later it continues to facilitate business improvement across the globe by helping its clients drive performance, manage risk and grow sustainably through the adoption of international management systems standards, many of which BSI originated. Renowned for its marks of excellence including the consumer recognized BSI Kitemark™, BSI’s influence spans multiple sectors including aerospace, automotive, built environment, food, healthcare and ICT. With over 80,000 clients in 172 countries, BSI is an organisation whose standards inspire excellence across the globe.  
 
To learn more, please visit www.bsigroup.com

About the International SOS Group of Companies

The International SOS Group of Companies is in the business of saving lives, protecting your global workforce from health and security threats. Wherever you are, we deliver customised health, security risk management and wellbeing solutions to fuel your growth and productivity. In the event of extreme weather, an epidemic or a security incident, we provide an immediate response providing peace of mind. Our innovative technology and medical and security expertise focus on prevention, offering real-time, actionable insights and on-the-ground quality delivery. We help protect your people, your organisation's reputation, as well as support your compliance reporting needs. By partnering with us, organisations can fulfil their Duty of Care responsibilities, while empowering business resilience, continuity and sustainability.

 

Founded in 1985, the International SOS Group, headquartered in London & Singapore, is trusted by 12,000 organisations, including the majority of the Fortune 500, as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions and NGOs. 12,000 multicultural medical, security and logistics experts stand with you to provide support & assistance from over 1,000 locations in 90 countries, 24/7, 365 days.   

To protect your workforce, we are at your fingertips: www.internationalsos.com