Oslo, 1 December 2011 – DNV Healthcare has appointed Karen Timmons as Global Patient Safety Officer. Ms. Timmons was most recently the President and CEO of Joint Commision International.
DNV Healthcare provides accreditation, certification and rating services to hospitals and health care providers globally. It is the healthcare operating arm of DNV, the international leader in services for managing risk.
Ms. Timmons has more than 30 years of working experience within the healthcare sector, incorporating 10 years as president and CEO of Joint Commision International (JCI). During that time she was a driver for international accreditation and collaborated with the World Health Organization‘s World Alliance on Patient Safety on the development and dissemination of inaugural patient safety solutions that reduce risk to patients. She also served on the board of ISQua, the International Society for Quality, and chaired ISQua’s Alpha Council related to Programs on Hospital Accreditation. She has extensive experience and understanding of the global healthcare market, and will take on a key role in DNV in addressing the future challenges and opportunities facing the further internationalization of the healthcare sector.
Karen will report to Dr. Espen Cramer, Managing Director of DNV Healthcare. “I’m very pleased to have Karen as part of our management team. DNV is rapidly expanding its healthcare operations internationally, covering US, Europe and Asia, and Karen’s international leadership experience and network will play a vital role in further establishing our position as a global leader in enhancing patient safety and quality of care.”
Karen Timmons will take on the role as a Global Patient Safety Officer in DNV. “Healthcare is a highly complex industry, delivered in a demanding and pressurized environment,” she said. “Understanding the key risks inherent in this environment and most importantly how to manage these risks is paramount to providing safe care to patients. I am excited to be joining DNV with its legacy of nearly 150 years of strong and proven experience in safety and risk management, its vast infrastructure, and its innovative approach to accreditation. I look forward to sharing DNV’s story and best practices for managing risk with the goal of providing safe care to patients everywhere.”