Health Service Accreditation/Certification

This page provides an overview on accreditation/certification of eligible organisations under the Establishing Quality Health Standards Continuation measure.

In this section:

Overview

In the 2011-12 Federal Budget $35 million was allocated until June 2015 under the Establishing Quality Health Standards Continuation (EQHS-C) measure to continue support for eligible organisations to achieve accreditation/certification under mainstream standards relevant in the Australian healthcare environment. This measure builds on the work undertaken through the original 2007-08 EQHS measure ($36.9 million over four years).

How do I apply for EQHS-C funding and support?

From 1 July 2012 applications for EQHS-C funding and support will be managed and administered by the EQHS Accreditation Administrator. The EQHS Accreditation Administrator can be contacted through the following channels:

Telephone: 1300 738 017
E-mail: admin@eqhs.com.au
Web: www.eqhs.com.au

What is the EQHS-C measure seeking to achieve over the four years?

100% of eligible primary health care organisations, with a general practitioner achieve first time clinical accreditation through the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for General Practice.
At least 80% of all eligible organisations (i.e. Primary Health Care, Substance Use, and Social and Emotional Well Being organisations) achieve first time organisational accreditation through the Quality Improvement Council (QIC) Health and Community Services Standards, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Quality Management Systems, or the Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP) Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).
Accredited/certified eligible organisations maintain their accreditation/certification status. top of page

What has changed under EQHS-C from EQHS?

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations’ (NACCHO) Affiliates will be able to offer Facilitation Support.
Independent comprehensive Gap Assessment, previously undertaken by facilitators, will now be undertaken by relevant standards assessing organisations.
Facilitation Support will be available from the beginning of the process until the organisation achieves accreditation/certification.
Payments to Accreditation Facilitators will be based on organisations achieving milestones for accreditation/certification.
Accreditation Support Funding (to address essential barriers to achieving accreditation/certification) can be accessed by organisations anytime during the year instead of waiting for specific funding rounds.
Maintenance Funding to eligible organisations that have already achieved organisational accreditation to maintain their accreditation/certification.

What organisations are eligible to access EQHS-C support?

Organisations' eligibility to access EQHS-C support will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Generally, eligible organisations are those that receive the majority of their recurrent funding for health service delivery as their core business, from OATSIH such as the Primary Health Care service providers. Peak bodies such as NACCHO and its jurisdictional Affiliates are also eligible.

Substance Use and Social and Emotional Well-Being service providers that received majority of their recurrent funding from OATSIH in 2010-11, such as Link-up services and Bringing Them Home counselling services that continue to receive majority of their recurrent funding from the Department of Health and Ageing for delivery of same services will also be eligible to access EQHS-C support.

What support is available for eligible organisations?

Support for eligible organisations will vary depending on the specific requirements of individual organisations. The support available is:

One-on-one Accreditation Facilitation Support. Funding is available for Accreditation Facilitators to provide ongoing expect support and advice to eligible organisations to help them achieve first time clinical and/or organisational accreditation/ certification under mainstream standards relevant in the Australian healthcare environment (for more information go to www.eqhs.com.au)
Gap Assessments conducted by a relevant gap assessing agency to identify any essential barriers to achieving accreditation/certification existing in the organisation. The assessment report will inform the accreditation work plan for use by the organisation in preparing for formal accreditation/certification and in applying for Accreditation Support Funding (for more information go to www.eqhs.com.au).
Accreditation Support Funding provided to eligible organisations for first time accreditation/certification to help overcome essential barriers to achieving accreditation/certification (for more information go to www.eqhs.com.au).
Sector Support (funding provided to NACCHO and its jurisdictional Affiliates) at the national and jurisdictional level provided by NACCHO and its Affiliates to provide support to all eligible organisations, and promote and maintain accreditation/certification in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector.
Maintenance Funding to eligible organisations that have already achieved organisational accreditation/certification to maintain their accreditation/certification (organisations with clinical accreditation have access to financial incentives such as Practice Incentives Program (PIP) payments. Such incentives are not available for organisations with only organisational accreditation/certification).
Access to various support activities such as resources and workshops to assist with achieving accreditation/certification. top of page

Under EQHS-C what is expected of:

Organisations?

Access available EQHS-C support elements to assist in working towards achieving clinical and/or organisational accreditation/certification.
Actively pursue achieving accreditation/certification.
Liaise with Accreditation Facilitators, Affiliates, standards assessing organisations, OATSIH and other stakeholders to achieve and maintain accreditation/certification.
Ensuring ongoing Board and CEO support and active CEO engagement with achieving and maintaining accreditation/certification.
Maintain accreditation/certification once achieved.

Affiliates?

Provide advice about support available under each EQHS-C support element to all eligible organisations in their jurisdiction.
Promote and raise awareness of the need for accreditation/certification and its value to all eligible organisations in their jurisdiction.
Assist eligible organisations with problem solving, information about processes and resources.
Assist eligible organisations in their jurisdiction with implementation of their Accreditation Work Plan, achieving accreditation/certification and maintaining accreditation/certification.
Liaise with all eligible organisations, Accreditation Facilitators, NACCHO, Standards Assessing Organisations, OATSIH and other stakeholders to achieve and maintain accreditation/certification.

NACCHO?

Influence the development of standards and resources to reflect the accreditation needs of the Indigenous health sector.
Assist standards developing organisations and standard assessing organisations in understanding the accreditation needs of the Indigenous health sector.
Support Affiliates in performing their Sector Support functions under the EQHS-C measure.
Provide current and relevant accreditation/certification resources on NACCHO’s National Communication Network and provide access to all eligible organisations.
Liaise and work with Affiliates, OATSIH, standard owners and standard assessing organisations to achieve accreditation/certification goals.

Accreditation Facilitators?

Assist organisations throughout their accreditation journey with identifying frameworks, standards assessing organisations, resources and respond to other support requirements.
Assist organisations with developing and implementing accreditation work plans.
Liaise and work with Affiliates, OATSIH, standard owners and standards assessing agencies to achieve accreditation/certification goals.

Assessment/Certification Agencies/License Providers?

Work with organisations to complete Gap Assessments.
Assess/certify organisations against framework standards/requirements.
Liaise and work with organisations, facilitators, Affiliates, NACCHO and OATSIH in resolving issues and assisting organisations in achieving and maintaining accreditation/certification. top of page

OATSIH?

Provide information, funding and coordination to eligible organisations and stakeholders to achieve and maintain accreditation/certification of eligible organisations under the EQHS-C measure.

What are the frameworks under which eligible organisations can seek accreditation/certification under EQHS-C?

Eligible organisations can seek clinical and/or organisational accreditation/certification.

Clinical Accreditation

Primary Health Care organisations providing general practice services should, in the first instance, pursue accreditation under the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for General Practice. This will also make organisations eligible to access the Practice Incentive Program (PIP) payments. These organisations will also be supported to achieve organisational accreditation/certification.

Organisational Accreditation/Certification

All eligible organisations (Primary Health Care, Substance Use, and Social and Emotional Well Being organisations) can seek organisational accreditation through one of the following standards:

Quality Improvement Council (QIC) Health and Community Service Standards.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems.
EQuIP Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS).

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