News
QIC considers standards reforms
QIC is considering some important changes to the structure of its standards. The changes involve a move away from the 2 tier towards a single tier system. The current 2 tier approach comprises the Core Standards + Service Specific Standards (see the Publications page on this website for more detail of the current system). The proposed new system involves enhanced Core Standards, supported by a good practice interpretative guide. Under the change organisations would self assess and be externally assessed under one rather than two sets of standards. The proposal aims to simplify accreditation, while not reducing its rigour.
For a summary of the proposal, its rationale, and the results of a polling of participating organisations in early 2008, click here.
New Directors join QIC Board
QIC is pleased to announce the appointment of four new Directors to its Board. With strong backgrounds in business strategy, marketing and governance, as well as extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector, the new Directors take their positions from 1 June 2008. They are Susan Dann, Tony Ho, Jason McLean, and Ern Phang. Board Chair Brendon Davidson said " We are delighted to have our new Directors, with the great skills and drive they bring." For more details about the QIC Board click here.
QIC wins tender to streamline accreditation in Indigenous health services
QIC has won a tender with the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH), to advise how indigenous health services can best engage in dual accreditation - for their medical practices as well as their allied health and infrastructure. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACHHOs) funded by OATSIH participate in accreditation under the Australian College of General Practitioners standards and also under QIC standards. The project will see the mapping of both sets of standards according to some key domains and some procedural collaboration between the accrediting bodies. The project is due for completion in late 2008.
QIC
standards internationally accredited
QIC's six standards modules
have been accredited for a four year period by the International Society
for Quality in Health Care (ISQua). The standards were assessed against
ISQua's five Principles for Standards:
- Contribute to quality and service improvement
- Patient/client focussed and encompasses management and support infrastructure
- Content of standards is comprehensive and reflects (identified) dimensions
of quality
- Planned, formulated and evaluated through a defined process, and
- Enable consistent measurement.
The Principles were supported
by a range of criteria.
In its report, ISQua said that
the QIC standards were 'appropriate to the community services that use
them, are strongly client focussed and the partnership principle is evident
throughout.' It commended QIC and acknowledged QIC as a world leader in
the accreditation field.
QIC chair Mr Tony Lund said
that QIC and its licensed providers were thrilled that international recognition
had been given regarding the quality of QIC's standards, and paid tribute
to the many people who had voluntarily contributed to the standards' development,
and the preparation of documentation for accreditation.
QIC is presently preparing for
ISQua accreditation of its organisation and process, with external assessment
scheduled for May 2007.
Awards
for outstanding service
QIC recently recognised the
outstanding contributions of 3 individuals to the work of QIC.
Professor Hal Swerissen was
the founding Executive Officer and Company Secretary until his recent
appointment as Associate Dean of the Health Sciences Faculty at La Trobe
University. The citation on his Award praised Hal for his service as a
Board member, from QIC's inception in 1998 to November 2004. He assisted
the organisation to develop sound administrative systems and practices,
helped develop rigour in the QIC program, and provided extensive support
to the QIC Secretariat over six years.
Cheryl de Zilwa served QIC in
her capacity as Director of Quality Management Services Inc. between 1998
and 2004. She provided considerable support to the QIC Board and was an
active member of its Technical Working Group as well as several other
working groups and committees associated with QIC. Cheryl provided leadership
in identifying new markets for QIC standards and accreditation and demonstrated
how the program could be flexible and customer-centred, while retaining
its rigour.
Russell Renhard served the Community
Health Accreditation and Standards Program ('CHASP' - QIC's predecessor)
and later QIC in his capacity as Director of QICSA from 1985-2002. He
was a strong advocate for an effective quality improvement program which
served an expanding field. In his leadership of QICSA, he developed a
distinctive approach to accreditation reviews which demonstrated to QIC
the potential of the program as a stimulus for organisational learning
and validation of achievement. Russell also assisted the program in conceptualising
quality improvement and the development of standards.
Congratulations and thanks to
our Award winners.
Photos
QIC
launches ATODS standards
On 9 November 2005, QIC's Alcohol,
Tobacco and Other Drugs Services Standards were launched at the Australian
Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs (APSAD) Conference at
Hilton on the Park, East Melbourne. Speaking at the launch, Alcohol &
Drug Council of Australia CEO, Donna Bull praised the standards as clear,
outcome-focussed, evidence based and supported by professionals in the
field. "These standards make a great contribution to quality improvement
in alcohol and drug services, and they demonstrate the distinctive nature
of this sector", Ms Bull said.
The eight ATODS standards together
with Evidence Questions were developed for QIC by consultant John McLeod
assisted by a widely representative steering committee, and funded by
the federal Department of Health and Ageing. They complement QIC's Health
and Community Services Core Module, and can be used either as stand-alone
assessment tools and checklists, or as part of QIC accreditation.
The ATODS standards may be purchased
via the QIC Order Form.
Photos
27 Divisions
of General Practice sign with QIC program in Victoria
Divisions of General Practice
(DGPs) in Victoria have overwhelmingly chosen the QIC program for accreditation.
DGPs and their state coordinating bodies (state based organisations -
'SBOs') assist general medical practitioners improve the quality of their
practices and support them to introduce elements of population health.
In 2004 the federal Department
of Health and Ageing required Divisions to be accredited with one of three
eligible accrediting bodies including QIC. Several Victorian DGPs as well
as the SBO - General Practice Divisions Victoria, were already in the
QIC program when the requirement was announced. The Department offered
a financial incentive for enrolling with an accrediting body before the
end of June 2005. QICSA - QIC's Licensed Provider in Victoria, reported
27 out of a possible 30 DGPs as well as the SBO had signed up by the due
date.
QICSA Director, Sharyn Turney
- a former Division employee, said she was delighted with the endorsement
of QIC as accrediting body for Divisions by so may organisations. "They
have clearly chosen QICSA and the QIC program for our understanding of
the work of DGPs, the relevance of our standards and quality improvement
processes, and we welcome them", she said
QIC provider a finalist in New
Zealand 's 2005 Health Innovation Awards
Te Wana Quality Programme, QIC's
licensed provider in New Zealand is a finalist in New Zealand 's 2005
Health Innovation Awards. The 24 Award finalists were chosen from 151
entries and the winner will be announced on 30 June 2005 . The Awards
are jointly sponsored by the New Zealand Ministry of Health, the Accident
Compensation Corporation and Telecom New Zealand .
Te Wana is the quality arm of
New Zealand 's community controlled primary care provider peak body, Health
Care Aotearoa ( HCA ) - a network of 54 organisations. The HCA network
is guided in the organisation and delivery of its services by the principles
of the Treaty of Waitangi, and targets disadvantaged and vulnerable communities
in New Zealand .
Each Award candidate is nominated
for an outstanding contribution to health care improvement. Te Wana has
been nominated for developing a peer review system for community-driven
health organisations, which is implemented in a supportive and culturally
sensitive way.
Last year's Award winner, a
new system for treating patients with stomach upsets, reduced waiting
lists and costs by $NZ1.5 million for the Auckland District Health Board.
The 2005 Award winner will receive
$NZ15,000 and there are prizes for individual, group and organisation
entries.
Te Wana programme director Jac
Lynch said "The peer review system is a valuable tool for capacity building
and for sharing ideas and good practice in the third sector. It allows
the reviewers a chance to see how other organisations do things, as well
providing those groups being reviewed with feedback from peers rather
than auditors."
WHO contracts QIC to write standards
QIC
has been contracted by the World Health Organisation Geneva, to write
a standard concerning individual and community participation in maternal
and neonatal health services. Board Chair Brendon Davidson said that QIC
was very honoured to be selected to undertake this work. "This contract
recognises QIC's outstanding work in quality improvement for primary care
services, which spans 20 years", Mr Davidson said.
The standard will
become part of WHO's clinical and corporate Standards for Maternal and
Neonatal Health Services - a major initiative in the Making Pregnancy
Safer Strategy. The Strategy addresses the UN Millenium Goals to prevent
maternal and infant deaths. The Standards will be used to assist governments
and health care systems of developing countries improve pregnancy support,
obstetric, postnatal and family planning services.
The new community
participation standard will state how at a national, regional and district
level, health services can support a greater say in decision-making by
women and communities. The project involves an extensive literature review,
the development of the standard and associated criteria, plus suggested
amendments to existing standards. It will be completed in June 2005. See
also Quality Projects
QIC goes to Vietnam
photos
On a visit to Vietnam in January
2005, QIC Executive Director Steve Einfeld was taken on a WHO Vietnam
organised tour of district and community health services in an outer area
of Hanoi. Guided by the Vietnam Ministry of Health, the tour included
the Thanh Tri district general hospital and the Vinh Quynh community health
station.
Both the hospital and community
health station provide traditional as well as western medical services,
with traditional herbs grown in the grounds of the facilities. The community
health station runs a wide range of health promotion and treatment programs
including nutrition, diabetes, immunisation, reproductive health and mental
health. Steve said he was surprised at the similarities with community
health in Australia.
Service and Ministry staff also
spoke about the Vietnamese national health service accreditation system.
Following the tour, Steve met
with Dr Hans Troedssen, head of WHO Vietnam and Dr Merel Mattousch and
discussed their work.
QIC in Geneva for World Health
Organisation Technical Committee
photos
QIC was recently invited by
the World Health Organisation in Geneva to join an international technical
panel to review draft standards for Maternal and Neonatal Health Services.
The meeting, on 26-28 October 2004 comprised health and quality improvement
practitioners from countries as diverse as Lithuania, Mongolia, Chile,
Tanzania, and Oman.
Development of the standards
is part of WHO's Making Pregnancy Safer Strategy - to address the very
high international death rate for infants and mothers in childbirth, 99%
of which occurs in developing countries. The standards, to be publically
launched on World Health Day in April 2005, will support improved maternal
and neonatal health services.
QIC Executive Director Steve
Einfeld who attended the meeting said that QIC's contribution to the panel
discussions was enhanced 'by our experience over the last two years of
extensively reviewing our standards and review tools - especially our
Core Module'. Steve said that there was considerable interest from international
participants and WHO staff in QIC's recently completed standards.
Professor Hal Swerissen farewelled
from QIC Board
Founding member of the QIC Board
Professor Hal Swerissen was farewelled at the 19 November 2004 Board meeting.
He had been a founding member of the Board and its Secretary and Executive
Officer for nearly seven years.
Paying tribute to Professor
Swerissen's contribution, Chair Andrew Stanley referred to his role in
the transition from QIC's previous incarnation as the Community Health
Accreditation and Standards Program (CHASP) where it was based at the
Australian Community Health Association, to its current status as a not-for-profit
public company based in the Australian Institute for Primary Care at La
Trobe University.
He said that Professor Swerissen
had been an outstanding advocate for QIC, providing leadership in the
development of its standards development and accreditation processes as
well as ensuring that the organisation had sound administration systems
in place.
Professor Swerissen has been
appointed Associate Dean Faculty of Health Sciences La Trobe Univesity
(Bendigo), and will be succeeded in his role as QIC Director, Secretary
and Executive Officer by the new Australian Institute for Primary Care
Director, Associate Professor Peter Foreman.
New Core Module launched at
Quality Conference
photos
10 August saw the launch QIC's
new Health and Community Services Core Standards Module. The Module includes
17 Standards covering leadership and management, service and program provision
and external relations. They embrace aspects of organisations which are
both common to all human services organisations and which express QIC’s
philosophy and Core Concepts.
Australian Council for Safety
and Quality Health Care consumer member Ms Betty Johnson AO launched the
Standards at the 2nd Australasian Conference on Safety and Quality in
Health Care at the Canberra Convention Centre.
Betty is an executive member
of the Australian Council of Safety and Quality Health Care and a director
of the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency. She is a member of
the executive committee, Older Women's Network (Aust.) and past secretary
of both the Older Women's Network (Aust.) and the Australian Pensioners'
and Superannuants' Federation.
See the new Core
Standards for:
- 15 widely accepted safety and quality features
- Standards written as consumer-focused outcome
- Built in continuous quality improvement
- Evidence questions for each Standard
- A Practical Guide on how to use the standards plus a handy glossary
of terms.
The Standards were written with
the help of a Steering Committee - including service providers, government
and consumers. Extensive consultation and evaluated trials were also held
to ensure they reflected good practice.
You can see a description of
the Standards and order a copy by completing
an Order Form and sending the form and payment to QIC.
New features in QIC accreditation
process
The launch of the latest edition
of the Core Module will be followed by some changes to the QIC accreditation
process as from 1 September 2004. Existing accreditations granted by QIC
will of course be valid until their expiry date, which is written on the
accreditation certificate.
The changes have been made to
adapt the process and the review tools to the new Core Module and also
to reduce the workload for participating organisations.
In recent years the QIC Program
has applied the Essential Requirements – a framework used for assessing
whether enough of the important Standards had been met to merit an award
of accreditation.
The new Core Module has been
written so that only the very important Standards are in the Module. Accordingly
the Essential Requirements will no longer be applied, and only organisations
that meet all the Core Standards will be eligible for accreditation.
In the past, organisations participating
in the self assessment phase of the review cycle have had to complete
a separate Workbook for each set of Standards. Now there will be a single
Quality Journal. The Journal will be available on line, in downloadable
electronic form as well as in printed form. As well as the self assessment
Proforma, the Quality Journal will contain a guide to using the Journal,
an Evidence Guide, and a set of review resources – mini tools for
self assessing specific areas of organisational work.
The Quality Journal is only
available to organisations participating in the program, and will be provided
on commencement in the Program.
QIC backs formation of an Australian
National Primary and Community Health Network
Representatives of primary and
community health organisations throughout Australia gathered on 27 April
2004, at the Melbourne Convention Centre to consider the formation of
a national Network or forum on primary and community health issues.
The meeting was convened by
the Australian Institute for Primary Care, and chaired by Institute Director
and QIC Secretary Assoc Prof Hal Swerissen. There was considerable interest
in the formation of a national Network, especially with the cessation
of the Australian Community Health Association in the late 1990s.
Concern was expressed about
the lack of visibility and therefore vulnerability of community health
in the system, and the dominance of the acute care paradigm. Those present
saw the advantage of a Network for information sharing and dialogue –
especially between practitioners, researchers and policy development people.
The immediate outcome of the
meeting was the preparation of a paper proposing formal aims, structures
and actions. For further information contact Jenny Macmillan on (03) 9479
1772 or j.macmillan@latrobe.edu.au
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