Standards and accreditation updates

To advise diagnostic imaging practices of the requirements for Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme Standard 1.6: Health-care Associated Infection. Specifically, the requirements for high-level disinfection of semi-critical reusable medical devices in diagnostic imaging.

To describe assessment requirements for informed financial consent in health service organisations.

To update accrediting agencies of health service organisations’ requirements for the 2021 Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard in the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards relating to antimicrobial stewardship, specifically in relation to surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis.

To clarify not applicable actions for hospitals, day procedure services, multi-purpose services, bush nursing services, patient transport services and public dental services.

To describe the requirement for accrediting agencies to submit an annual declaration relating to conflicts of interest.

To clarify the requirements for the transition between the 2017 Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-Associated Infection Standard of the National Safety and Quality Health Services (NSQHS) Standards and the 2021 Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard.

To describe arrangements for accreditation of newly established health service organisations applying for interim accreditation to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

To describe the sampling methodology to be used by accrediting agencies when sampling health service organisations at accreditation assessment.

To clarify the applicability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific actions in the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

To describe assessment requirements for Actions 1.23, 1.24, 1.27b, and 1.28a of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (second edition) for health service organisations implementing the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard.