Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon, CEO of FV Hospital: We can confidently declare that FV Hospital has achieved A Standard of Medical Excellence

At the brand positioning launch event on the morning of 15 September, Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon, CEO of FV Hospital, emphasised that FV’s commitment to raising healthcare standards reflects more than two decades of sustained effort. Speaking to reporters, he explained that this achievement is underpinned by the careful selection of a highly qualified medical team, the standardisation of safety protocols in line with international benchmarks, and an unwavering commitment to patient-centred care. These foundations will continue to guide FV as it strengthens its position in Vietnam’s healthcare sector.

Why has FV chosen this moment to introduce its new brand positioning, “A Standard of Medical Excellence”?

Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon: Founded in 2003, FV Hospital was established with the ambition of becoming a leading healthcare provider in Asia. In 2006, FV introduced its brand philosophy, “Trust in Medical Ethics”, reaffirming its ambition to become one of Asia’s leading hospitals. For more than two decades, we have worked consistently to meet increasingly rigorous standards.

I want to emphasise that achieving this standard requires us to meet a wide range of criteria, covering our medical and nursing teams, clinical quality, patient safety, operational processes, technology, continuing medical education, and the overall patient experience.

FV was among the pioneers in bringing international medical standards to Vietnam in 2003. However, we have never claimed to have achieved our ambitions from the outset. Over the years, we have worked meticulously to develop and refine our standards while adhering strictly to medical ethics. Today, we can make this declaration with confidence.

Looking back over the past 23 years, what are the key pillars that enabled FV to establish this standard?

Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon: FV has built its operational standards around three key pillars.

First, FV has focused on recruiting doctors in their prime professional years, when they can bring substantial expertise and make a strong contribution to the hospital. In its early years, FV relied on expatriate doctors because it was difficult to recruit local specialists from the public healthcare system. Rather than focusing on retired doctors, FV sought to recruit doctors aged 35–40 who had trained or worked in the US, Australia, Japan, Taiwan and other countries. The hospital provided a transparent working environment and invested significantly in infrastructure and technology to help these doctors realise their full potential. Today, FV has a highly skilled medical team that I would personally trust with my own healthcare.

Second, FV standardised its operational processes and patient safety practices in line with Joint Commission International (JCI) requirements. In 2009, the hospital began inviting JCI experts to assess its operations. After seven years of sustained effort, FV achieved its first JCI accreditation in 2016. Since then, the hospital has successfully achieved three reaccreditations, bringing its total to four JCI accreditations, while continuing to uphold international patient safety standards.

FV Hospital first received the JCI Accreditation in 2016

In 2025, FV Hospital was honoured to receive its fourth consecutive JCI accreditation.

Third, FV has developed a nursing team trained to international standards. Our nurses receive comprehensive training in foreign languages and professional nursing and care protocols. Most of FV’s current head nurses are Vietnamese professionals who have been with the hospital since its early years and continue to train the next generation of nurses. Patients regularly commend the nursing team for the quality of its care.
Alongside these three pillars, FV continues to invest in advanced technologies, modern medical equipment and ongoing training for its healthcare professionals.

During the journey to build “A Standard of Medical Excellence”, what was the greatest challenge FV had to overcome?

Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon: The greatest challenge was changing healthcare professionals’ mindsets and embedding a genuine patient-centred care approach throughout the hospital.

A patient receiving a consultation from a doctor

In the past, patients in Vietnam were often less involved in decisions about their treatment and tended to follow their doctors’ recommendations without question. At FV, we have worked to change this mindset. Patients have ownership of their own bodies and should play an active role in decisions about their healthcare. Our doctors and staff take the time to listen to patients and clearly explain relevant information about their health before, during and after examinations and treatment. Patients and their families are encouraged to participate actively in treatment decisions. Before giving consent to treatment, patients receive clear information about their rights and responsibilities. FV also upholds patients’ rights to be treated with respect and to have their confidentiality and privacy protected, in line with applicable JCI standards.

Beyond clinical care, FV places a strong emphasis on the overall patient experience. The hospital is designed around the patient journey, with layouts that improve comfort and minimise unnecessary walking, from the waiting areas to the bedside. Our doctors, nurses and administrative staff receive training in communication and service skills to provide a consistent, supportive experience at every stage of the patient journey, from registration, consultation and diagnostic tests to treatment, discharge, dining services and billing.

FV has also standardised procedures for sensitive interactions, including telephone communication, delivering difficult news, supporting patients with serious illnesses and providing care at the end of life. Regular internal workshops and professional coaching sessions help staff develop and maintain these skills.

The medical field is advancing rapidly, with major developments in technology and clinical techniques. How does FV Hospital ensure that its medical team keeps in line with these advances?

Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon: Medicine advances rapidly, making continuous learning essential for healthcare professionals. FV supports its doctors’ professional development through a digital medical library and access to hundreds of international peer-reviewed journals, allowing them to review clinical case studies and evidence-based research.

FV doctors also collaborate regularly with international hospitals and organise specialised medical conferences, where Vietnamese and international experts share research findings and discuss complex clinical cases.

Robotic surgery performed with the assistance of a Japanese expert

At the same time, FV continues to invest in advanced medical technology, including the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, a 3.0-tesla MRI scanner and the Brain Navigation system for neurosurgery. FV also plans to introduce the CyberKnife radiosurgery system. By combining advanced technology with ongoing clinical training and development, FV aims to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients.

MRI 3.0 Tesla

Today, we can confidently declare that FV Hospital has achieved A Standard of Medical Excellence. However, our work does not stop here. We will continue to improve every day to uphold this commitment.

Thank you, Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon.

Joint Commission International (JCI) is an international healthcare accreditation organisation that evaluates healthcare organisations against established standards for quality and patient safety. JCI accreditation is widely recognised as an indicator of a healthcare organisation’s commitment to quality improvement and patient safety.