Advanced Hip & Knee Replacement Certification

DNV’s Advanced Hip & Knee Replacement Certification (AHKRC) helps organizations showcase a patient-centred, outcomes-driven approach to total joint replacement, delivering safe, efficient, and consistent care that earns trust across the care continuum.

Advanced Hip & Knee Replacement Certification

Meeting the modern demands of joint replacement 

Hip and knee replacements are among the most common and rapidly growing surgical procedures worldwide. Yet as volumes rise, so do expectations. Patients demand quicker scheduling, fewer complications, and better outcomes. Payers and regulators require proof of evidence-based care pathways and consistent performance. Hospitals and ambulatory surgical centres (ASCs) must deliver hip and knee replacement services that are clinically sound, operationally efficient, and aligned with best practices.  

How our hip & knee certification services support you  

DNV’s Advanced Hip & Knee Replacement Certification (AHKRC) is a formal recognition for hospitals and surgery centres that provide exceptional care in hip and/or knee joint replacement surgeries. The certification process is both comprehensive and supportive, designed to identify strengths and support continuous improvement.  

An expert-led survey focuses on clinical and operational excellence across the entire joint replacement journey, including: 

  • Preoperative assessment and optimization. 
  • Patient education and shared decision-making. 
  • Intraoperative best practices and surgical technique.  
  • Rehabilitation and early mobility protocols. 
  • Infection prevention and complication management. 
  • Discharge planning and long-term follow-up. 

Each survey is conducted by a DNV surveyor with specialized orthopaedic experience, offering informed, actionable feedback tailored to your care environment. The survey is scheduled in coordination with your team and includes the agenda in advance of the survey. Our annual survey schedule encourages ongoing readiness, learning, and improvement. 

We don’t impose a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, we validate your program's ability to consistently deliver safe, standardized, and high-quality orthopaedic care, no matter your facility’s size or structure. 

Achieving DNV’s AHKRC certification affirms your organization’s commitment to quality outcomes, consistency in care, and adherence to national guidelines. You aren’t just participating in this high-stakes environment – you’re leading it.

Orthopedic Excellence Certification

Discover how DNV’s Orthopedic Excellence Certification helps hospitals and surgery centers elevate care quality, strengthen clinical performance, and demonstrate leadership in orthopaedic outcomes.

What sets our certification approach apart

Recognized validation of orthopaedic excellence

Validates that your hip and knee replacement program to ensure it meets and exceeds national standards for quality and safety.

Built around leading clinical guidelines

Aligns with best practices from organizations like the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), and CMS bundled payment programs.

Encourages team integration

Evaluates how your surgical, nursing, rehab, and patient education teams work together to provide cohesive, patient-centred care.

Enables measurable progress

Facilitates outcome tracking, performance benchmarking, and quality initiatives that enhance patient satisfaction and surgical outcomes.

Builds confidence and reputation

Patients, payers, and referring providers view certification as a seal of trust that positions your organization as a preferred destination for orthopaedic care.

Your trusted choice in healthcare 

DNV combines the best of international quality frameworks (ISO 9001) with clinically informed healthcare standards, making us uniquely qualified to evaluate and support orthopaedic excellence. 

We go beyond regulatory checklists. Our approach integrates data-driven insights with process evaluation, offering more than just compliance – it’s a pathway to operational excellence. 

With AHKRC, you benefit from: 

  • Integrated alignment with hospital accreditation. 
  • Flexibility to adapt certification pathways to your care model. 
  • Long-term performance improvement, not just compliance. 
  • Whether you're enhancing an established joint replacement centre or building a new program from the ground up, DNV provides the structure, insights, and validation to support your growth. 

Why hip and knee replacement certification matters 

  • Strengthens interdisciplinary coordination across surgical, rehabilitation, and nursing teams. 
  • Reduces clinical variability and standardizes care pathways. 
  • Enhances differentiation in a competitive orthopaedic marketplace. 
  • Aligns with value-based payment models and payer expectations  
  • Demonstrates operational excellence to boards, regulators, and the public. 

Resources to support your Advanced Hip & Knee Replacement Certification

Access key tools and documents to help your organization maintain certification readiness and demonstrate excellence in orthopedic outcomes.

Survey document request list

Survey document request list

Access the checklist of required materials to prepare for your Advanced Hip & Knee Replacement Certification survey, ensuring smooth evaluation and compliance.

Partner with DNV to elevate orthopedic quality and patient outcomes

Partner with DNV to achieve ISO 13485 certification and elevate your orthopedic services. Our experts help align your hip and knee replacement programs with international standards to enhance quality, safety, and patient outcomes.

Contact us

Ronell Myburgh

Ronell Myburgh

Executive Director, Certifications, DNV Healthcare

Dawn Ellington

Dawn Ellington

Lead Surveyor, Orthopedic Certifications