The Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) has awarded East Prince Health with its second accreditation status.
Accreditation is an opportunity for staff to self-evaluate the way health care and social services are delivered. In East Prince Health, there were 15 accreditation teams throughout the region, covering all aspects of East Prince Health services. Each team consisted of 10 to 15 members who met over several months to complete the process.
Surveyors congratulated the region for its client-focused, integrated and co-ordinated approach to care and service delivery. An accreditation status and report was recently presented to the region.
East Prince Health C.E.O. David Riley said "With the heavy workload of those who work in our organization, taking on the extra duties of accreditation was a big commitment which required much dedication. I praise the Board, staff, physicians and volunteers who all contributed to the accreditation process - we are all very proud of the results of our efforts."
Every three years, as part of the ongoing accreditation program, health service organizations undertake a self-assessment process which is followed by a survey visit. This accreditation process allows both CCHSA and the organization to evaluate the quality of the organization's services by comparing them to nationally accepted standards.
The region received it's last accreditation status in November of 1998. This time, paperwork to prepare for the process began in September of 2000. Staff met in accreditation teams over the winter and a group of accreditors from across the country arrived for a regional site evaluation in June of 2001.
In the survey report it was noted that employees expressed confidence in the leadership of the organization. All clients, community partners, staff, volunteers, patients and family members involved in the process recognized specific examples of how East Prince Health is trying to keep people healthy and prevent illness.
CCHSA surveyors also looked at many aspects of the organization. They reviewed documents, interviewed teams representing the organization's leadership, support and client services. They toured the organization and held focus groups with the organization's clients, staff and community partners. The main difference between this accreditation process and the last was the involvement of focus groups. This effort broadened the feedback for the survey by involving staff and the client community in a discussion on the various aspects of regional service delivery.
The region was asked to provide a follow up report by November 30, 2002 which will address the development of an organization wide quality framework. Basically the organization is tasked to focus on developing methods to monitor and measure the effectiveness of service efforts in the region.
The organization was asked to collect data to assess whether quality is consistent, region-wide and use the quality framework to promote management responsibility for service delivery.
Through this effort, it will be possible to evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare or service processes in the region on an ongoing basis.
"We're pleased that we have received this renewed accreditation status," noted Mr. Riley. "We must not lose sight of the continued work that is required to maintain and enhance the standard of excellence required for the delivery of health and social services."