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AMSANT Administration Manual
for Aboriginal Primary Health Care Services in the Northern Territory |
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Accreditation of Health Services
Disclaimer
Overview
Continuous Quality improvement (CQI) and accreditation are increasingly becoming part of service funding and licensing agreements across all industries.
CQI and accreditation use standards which are broad statements of what is expected of an organisation. They describe and outline ways of providing a service that support high quality, safe and effective care.
Standards can be used formally and informally:
- to plan programs and services
- to improve, review and evaluate program and service development
- as a quality improvement tool
- in preparation for and undertaking accreditation
- as an educational tool for staff.
CQI is an internal process which includes looking at how things are done, thinking how they can be done better (improved) and developing ways (systems) for working effectively.
Accreditation is formal recognition that certain standards have been achieved by an organisation. An accreditation system needs to have:
- an approved set of standards
- a review process that assesses the extent to which the standards have been achieved and
- criteria which guide the awarding of accreditation.
Accreditation is currently voluntary. It is up to each organisation to decide whether it will seek accreditation. Participation in the accreditation system is open to all ACCHOs. It is (usualy) awarded for 3 years so it is a continuing process.
Examples of Quality Improvement Programs
ACCHOs undertaking Healthy for Life program undertake Continuous Quality Improvement Initiative (CQII) as outlined in their service agreement.
Audit and Best Practice for Chronic Disease Extension (ABCDE).
ABCDE is a research program focusing on systems to improve chronic disease management in remote health clinics.
Some services have developed their own internal quality improvement programs.
Accreditation Agencies
The following agencies are responsible for the setting of standards:
- Quality Improvement Council Quality Improvement Council (QIC).
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners – Standards for General Practice (RACGP-GP)
- The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd (ACSAA) for residential services
- Home & Community Care (HACC) – Commonwealth program
- National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC).
- Disability Standards
- National Mental Health Standards (NMHS)
- International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
Contact details are in the PHC resource section
These agencies contract Licensed Providers to organise and conduct the Review Cycle that leads to accreditiation.
Licensed Providers
1. QIC
QIC sets standards for community health services and licences the following agencies to facilitate the process leading to accreditation:
- Institute for Healthy Communities Australia (IHCA) – Queensland & NT
- Quality Management Services (QMS) - NSW, NT, SA, Tasmania and WA
- Quality Improvement & Community Services Accreditation (QICSA) - Victoria
2. RACGP
The RACGP sets standards for General Medical Practice and licenses the agencies to facilitate the process leading to accreditation:
- Australian General Practices Accreditation Limited (AGPAL)
- General Practice Accreditation (GPA Accreditationplus)
Accreditation to RACGP standards allows services to access Practice Incentive Program (PIP) payments from Medicare.
ACCHOs who wish to become a GP training site need to get accreditation through:
3. ISO
ISO 9001 is a quality management standard. The standards are developed by technical groups from the health industry. Their process is called an audit and includes a pre audit and certification audit. The outcome is that the service becomes “ ISO 9001 certified" or "ISO 9001 registered". This means and gives recognition that the service is applying particular business processes. Staff need training to undertake the process.
ISO Assessors include : IHCA; NCS International (NCSI); or SAI Global
4. Other Standards Processes
These (see above) provide various training and other processes for assessment. These requirements are often included in services funding agreements. Services should contact their appropriate funding officers.
Accreditation Support Grants
OATSIH now has Accreditation Support Grants (ASGs) that aim to assist organisations prepare for and achieve accreditation. There will be five ASG funding rounds over three years commencing in August 2008.
Accreditation Support Grant - Application Form
Phone: OATSIH Accreditation Information Line on 1800 723 676
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