The Princess Cruises Medical Departments have once again been credited with meeting the quality health standards of an internationally recognized healthcare organization.

Following a comprehensive survey of both its shipboard and shoreside medical departments, Princess Cruises has achieved an industry first by being awarded accreditation and ISO 9001:2008 certification for quality in health care. These awards recognize the excellent standards of medical care provided on board Princess’ vessels.

CHKS accreditation was first awarded to Princess in 2006 and, following comprehensive annual external surveys of its medical facilities, staff and procedures, in 2009 was re-accredited for a further three years. CHKS also certified that the Princess medical program meets the International Organization for Standardization’s quality standards (ISO 9001:2008) and has a management system in place that consistently meets customer and regulatory requirements. Princess is shortlisted to receive the CHKS Quality Improvement Award.

“I think many people would be surprised and reassured to know that our medical centers achieve similar quality standards to medical facilities ashore,” said Dr. Grant Tarling, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Princess Cruises. “We’ve worked extremely hard to attain these outstanding achievements which demonstrate our dedication to providing the highest standards of medical care for our patients on board our ships.”

CHKS is a major UK based organization which works with public and private health care providers worldwide. They develop best practice standards and are accredited by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua), the leading international healthcare quality policy and research organization, as well as by the UK Accreditation Services (UKAS) to award certification to the standards of ISO 9001:2008.

Princess Cruises’ medical department offers one of the industry’s most advanced sea-going medical programs, featuring a staff of qualified, full-time maritime professionals who work within well equipped facilities suited to the practice of medicine in a maritime environment. In addition to the CHKS accreditation and ISO 9001:2008 certification, Princess’ medical program meets or exceeds the cruise ship medical guidelines issued by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Princess ships are registered in Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory. Princess’ certification also applies to the medical programs of its sister lines Cunard Line, P&O Cruises UK, Ocean Village and P&O Cruises Australia, which are also operated by the Princess shoreside medical department.