1. Where else can I access support and guidance?
There are a range of other organisations that can provide support to health services undergoing accreditation. These include Commonwealth, state and territory health departments, approved accrediting agencies and professional associations such as the Australian Day Hospital Association, the Australian Private Hospital Association or Catholic Health Care.
2. How can we prevent us all from reinventing the same wheel in this process?
For many health service organisations, the introduction of the NSQHS Standards may mean building on or adjusting existing arrangements. For others, the process of accreditation may be entirely new and require on overhaul of existing safety and quality systems.
While the Commission has made a range of resources, guides and tools available to health service organisations, there is also value in making links with established organisations (for example, professional organisations) or networking with health services with similar characteristics, issues, or exemplar performance. For example, public hospitals can gain support through Local Hospital Districts or Networks and day procedure services may wish to stay in contact the Australian Day Hospital Association or the Australian Private Hospitals Association. The Commission is establishing networks of health service organisations due to undertake accreditation to the NSQHS Standards in 2013. More information about the networks can be found on the Advice Centre page.
The aim of the NSQHS Standards and the accreditation reforms is not to duplicate effort, but to encourage health services, accrediting agencies, regulators and the Commission to coordinate and streamline the accreditation process.
3. Where can I find more information?
For more information please contact the Commission’s Advice Centre.
Telephone: 1800 304 056
Email: accreditation@safetyandquality.gov.au