Health Standards Organization

What Health Standards Organization does

Health Standards Organization (HSO) is a Canadian not-for-profit standards development organization founded in February 2017 and headquartered in Ottawa. It builds on approximately 65 years of healthcare quality-improvement heritage from Accreditation Canada and is recognized by the Standards Council of Canada as the only Standards Development Organization solely dedicated to health and social services, with additional ISQuaEEA international accreditation. HSO develops and maintains more than 100 evidence-based standards covering clinical care, long-term care, integrated care, mental health, and patient safety, and complements them with assessment and accreditation programs delivered through a global network of partners including Accreditation Canada, HEA, IQMH, Quality Global Alliance, and Qualicor, collectively reaching more than 15,000 locations worldwide.

The organization's technology footprint comprises cloud-hosted Client, Partner, and Surveyor portals; a Shopify-powered E-Store for standards publications and licensing; the OnboardQi quality improvement collaboration platform for compliance tracking and continuous improvement; the Leading Practices Library of curated quality-improvement cases; and specialized tools such as the newly piloted Climate Action Benchmarking Tool developed with the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care. HSO also delivers advisory services and a Turn-Key Accreditation Program for organizations seeking readiness support, as well as medical-lab proficiency testing. Technical committees include patient partners, and the development process combines consensus-based methodology with public reviews, webinars, and community consultations.

HSO makes money through a mix of one-time and recurring revenue streams: one-time and perpetual licensing of standards publications via the E-Store, subscription-style recurring fees tied to assessment and accreditation programs delivered by partners, professional services revenue from education, training and advisory engagements, and platform access fees for OnboardQi and other quality improvement tools. Customer segments are split between health and social services provider organizations (hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, laboratories) and government health authorities using HSO standards as policy frameworks; an additional persona segment of healthcare professionals, surveyors and patient partners participates in standards development. Distribution is split between direct digital channels (portals, E-Store) and a global channel-partner network responsible for in-country accreditation delivery.

Name

Health Standards Organization

Legal name

Health Standards Organization

Website

https://healthstandards.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Health Standards Organization is an Ottawa-based not-for-profit that develops evidence-based standards and assessment programs for health and social services, recognized by the Standards Council of Canada as the only SDO dedicated to the sector and serving 15,000+ locations globally through its partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Standards and Accreditation Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)

akta.pro primary industry

Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards) (MPAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Health Systems Strengthening (BPAGABAD), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL)

Keywords

• Healthcare standards development
• Accreditation programs
• Quality improvement solutions
• Social services standards
• Standards development organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Standards Publications and Licensing: Sale of standards documents, technical publications, and licensing of standards for use by healthcare organizations.
2. Assessment and Accreditation Programs: Accreditation programs delivered by assessment partners, with HSO developing the standards and programs that partners use to conduct assessments.
3. Education and Training: Training sessions, webinars, and educational materials for healthcare professionals and organizations.
4. Quality Improvement Tools and Resources: Sale of quality improvement tools, resources, and platform access through the E-Store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Health Standards Organization (HSO) develops and maintains over 100 evidence-based standards for health and social services, and offers assessment and accreditation programs delivered through a global network of assessment partners. The organization also sells standards publications, training, and quality improvement tools (including the OnboardQi platform) via its E-Store, and provides advisory services and lab proficiency testing programs to healthcare providers, governments, and laboratories worldwide.

Product overview

Health Standards Organization (HSO) operates as a standards development organization that offers a portfolio of products centered around health and social service standards, assessment programs, and quality improvement solutions. The core offerings include over 100 evidence-based standards for health and social services, accreditation and assessment programs delivered through global partners, and complementary resources including the Leading Practices Library, Health Quality 5.0 framework, and the OnboardQi quality improvement collaboration platform. HSO also provides advisory services, lab proficiency testing programs, and specialized tools such as the Climate Action Benchmarking Tool. These products work together to help care providers implement best practices, achieve accreditation, and improve health outcomes globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Health and Social Services Standards Evidence-based health care and social service standards that serve as the foundation for HSO's quality improvement and accreditation programs; published and licensed to health and social services organizations, governments, and assessment partners.
• Assessment Programs (Accreditation) Quality improvement and accreditation programs enabling health and social services organizations to demonstrate compliance against HSO standards, delivered by global assessment partners including Accreditation Canada, HEA, IQMH, Quality Global Alliance, and Qualicor.
• OnboardQi Quality Improvement Platform Cloud-hosted quality improvement collaboration platform that enables healthcare organizations to implement, track, and measure compliance with health standards in a continuous improvement model.
• Lab Proficiency Testing Medical laboratory proficiency testing programs that help ensure the accuracy and reliability of laboratory testing services for medical laboratories.
• Turn-Key Accreditation Program A comprehensive accreditation program that provides organizations with all the tools and support needed to achieve accreditation status against HSO standards.
• Advisory Services Health system solutions and advisory services that strengthen health systems and advance safer care through expert consultation and guidance for governments and health organizations.
• Climate Action Benchmarking Tool A tool developed through a pilot partnership with CCGHC to help healthcare organizations assess and benchmark their climate action efforts.
• Leading Practices Library A repository of innovative and transformative practices from across the health care landscape, showcasing successful quality improvement initiatives that organizations can learn from and adopt.
• Standards Publications (E-Store Products) Standards documents, technical publications, training materials, and quality improvement tools sold individually through HSO's online E-Store for one-time/perpetual license purchase.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 15,000 locations worldwide receive accreditation services through HSO and Accreditation Canada
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.

• Accreditation CanadaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccreditation Canada is HSO's affiliate organization. HSO develops standards and assessment programs while Accreditation Canada delivers accreditation services to health and social services organizations worldwide. HSO builds on nearly 65 years of experience from Accreditation Canada.
• Standards Council of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSO is recognized and accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as the only Standards Development Organization solely dedicated to health and social services.
• International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSO is accredited by ISQuaEEA (International Society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association), demonstrating compliance with international standards for accreditation bodies.
• AC LogomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssessment partner delivering accreditation programs to health organizations.
• HEA LogomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssessment partner delivering accreditation programs.
• IQMH LogomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssessment partner delivering accreditation programs.
• Quality Global AlliancemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal network of assessment partners delivering accreditation programs worldwide.
• QualicormajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional assessment partner for accreditation services.
• Patient Safety InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the Canadian Quality and Patient Safety Framework for Health and Social Services.
• Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care (CCGHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSO and CCGHC announced completion of the pilot for the new Climate Action Benchmarking Tool (October 2025).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Accreditation Canada: HSO's affiliate and primary delivery arm; develops and delivers accreditation programs to 15,000+ healthcare locations globally using HSO's standards. Operates the same health-services accreditation market with overlapping board and executive structure.
• The Joint Commission: Largest US healthcare accreditation body, develops hospital and ambulatory care standards and operates surveyor networks. Direct competitor to HSO standards globally, particularly through its international arm.
• Joint Commission International (JCI): Global arm of The Joint Commission focused on healthcare accreditation outside the US, working with ministries and hospitals across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Most direct global competitor to HSO's standards licensing and assessment model.
• DNV Healthcare: Norwegian-founded accreditation and standards body that competes with HSO in hospital and clinical standards, offering managed certification programs across the US, Europe, and emerging markets.

Broad incumbents

• National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA): US-based nonprofit that develops quality standards and measures for health plans, providers, and physicians. Operates in an adjacent accreditation category with overlapping SDO function but broader population-health focus.
• URAC: Independent nonprofit healthcare accreditation organization offering standards and accreditation across health plans, specialty pharmacies, and provider networks. Overlaps with HSO on quality and safety standards for healthcare organizations.
• ISQua (International Society for Quality in Health Care): Global body that accredits the accreditors, including HSO itself via ISQuaEEA. Sets international standards for accreditation bodies and represents the umbrella ecosystem in which HSO competes and benchmarks.

Regional players

• COHSASA (Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa): Africa-focused healthcare accreditation body that develops and delivers standards in African markets where HSO is currently underrepresented. Competes for the same government and hospital accreditation mandates on a regional basis.
• Qualicor: European assessment partner delivering HSO-aligned accreditation programs in continental Europe. Operates in the same SDO ecosystem as a regional delivery partner, illustrative of HSO's franchise model versus fully integrated incumbents.
• National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH): Indian healthcare accreditation body under the Quality Council of India, a major SDO and accreditation competitor in the Indian subcontinent. Relevant regional peer given HSO's global expansion ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hso_world
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PeoplePoweredHealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/HealthStandardsOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/11030934

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Health Standards Organization