ACHS NEWS - Australian Council on Healthcare Standards

<strong>ACHS</strong> <strong>NEWS</strong> Issue 14 – Autumn 2005 • PAGE 2
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As previously announced the first edition of the publication
Improving Safety and Quality of Care with EQuIP – A
Clinician’s Guide has now been widely distributed. There has
been an overwhelming request for additional copies resulting in
all of the initial 10,000 print run being distributed.
Whilst this is an excellent response we would value your
feedback on how subsequent editions could be improved.
In this regard the views of clinicians would be highly valued.
The publication of our corporate history <strong>ACHS</strong> 30 Years has
received many positive reactions and has been widely
distributed. Author Glenda Banks has produced a fascinating
and entertaining publication and I commend it to you. Copies
are available from Sharon Tier at <strong>ACHS</strong> or via our website.
From time to time we receive requests to provide information
to state and territory governments as to the schedule of
planned accreditation surveys in the public sector for a
defined period.
The Board has determined a policy to cover such
instances. Information will be provided on a request basis.
The provision of this information is to respect our contractual
obligations regarding confidentiality and is to be confined to
the organisation’s name and membership number, the date
and nature of the survey, their current accreditation status
and its expiry date.
It is important that member organisations are aware of
this policy.
The <strong>ACHS</strong> is delighted to announce that we are now able
to offer a new program to Divisions of General Practice
across Australia. The program, Quality for Divisions
Network, is underpinned by a focus on continuous quality
improvement and incorporates standards, a full range of
support services and education. For further details, please
see the Products and Services column.
A very real example of the value of accreditation surfaced,
recently, when a major acute care provider was called to defend
an action in court. The organisation was able to demonstrate
a commitment to quality by long standing participation in
the <strong>ACHS</strong> accreditation program. Although the judgment went
against the organisation, the penalty imposed was a fraction of
the maximum with the concept of accreditation noted by the
judge in his summation.
The <strong>ACHS</strong> has been very conscious of certain anxieties arising
from organisations’ concerns as to the impact of mandatory
criteria on survey outcomes and therefore accreditation status.
Whilst it is early days the results of surveys conducted since
January this year generally look very promising; further details
are provided elsewhere in the newsletter.
I look forward to making contact with as many member
organisations as possible during the course of this year.
Products and services
Quality for the Divisions Network
The <strong>ACHS</strong> has developed a new quality improvement and
accreditation program for the Divisions of General Practice,
State-based organisations and the <strong>Australian</strong> Divisions of
General Practice. The Divisions Network Program has been
tailored to meet organisational responsibilities established to
support on-going professional development of General
Practitioners and their practices. It incorporates standards,
a full range of support services and education. The 2003
review, The Future Role of the Divisions Network, auspiced by
the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, made
a strong case for the Divisions to focus on continuous quality
improvement through a recognised accreditation program.
Accreditation is evolving as a Commonwealth requirement
for all divisions. There are currently 123 divisions of general
practice nationally, as well as eight State-based organisations
and a national organisation. The Department has approved
three providers but the <strong>ACHS</strong> is the only one with a
program developed in consultation with representatives of
the Divisions and AGPAL (<strong>Australian</strong> General Practitioners
Accreditation Ltd). Modelled on the <strong>ACHS</strong> Evaluation and
Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP), the first function is
Program Delivery, with a focus on the special activities of
the Divisions. For more information please contact Heather
McDonald on (02) 9281 9955.
Coordinator workshops
The requirement for organisations to demonstrate evidence
based performance especially in respect of mandatory criteria
within the EQuIP survey process to achieve full accreditation
from January 2005, may put some organisations at risk. Failure
to maintain accreditation status can have major implications
for health organisations, including the loss of funding in
the private sector. Also, the impact of provision of an SA
rating or below on mandatory criteria, and subsequent failure
to achieve accreditation places considerable pressure on
survey teams. The <strong>ACHS</strong> now offers a one-day workshop
to enhance the development of skills enabling trained
co-ordinators to manage, in particular, division over provision
of an MA rating, and the consequences of failing to achieve
full accreditation status. Member organisations wishing
to participate are invited to contact Heather McDonald on
(02) 9281 9955.
New national report
Production of The <strong>ACHS</strong> National Report on Accreditation has
been approved by the Board and is currently in progress.
Publication is planned for June this year and consideration
is being given to the frequency of future editions. The report
is intended to be of value to consumers and will provide
high level strategic advice to health professionals concerned
with policy determination, organisational performance and
the delivery of care. This is the first time an organisation
has collected and collated evidence on the value of
accreditation specific to health care in Australia on a national
basis, and we will publish the resulting report in hard copy
and electronic format.
Brian Johnston
Chief Executive
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safety, quality, performance