Healthcare Sustainability and Resilience Module
The Commission has developed the Healthcare Sustainability and Resilience Module (the Module) to address healthcare impacts on the environment and the climate risks affecting health outcomes and access to care.
Overview
The Module provides a framework of actions for health service organisations to integrate environmental sustainability and climate resilience strategies to deliver high-quality care.
The Module is designed to be implemented with other safety and quality standards developed by the Commission, such as the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS Standards).
Implementation
The Healthcare Sustainability and Climate Resilience Module is suitable for all health services implementing the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, the National Safety and Quality Primary Community Standards (NSQPCS) and the National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations (NSQMHSCMO).
Health services can implement the actions of the Module to support the development of their adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate and environmental risk. Health services may voluntarily be assessed against their implementation of the Module.
The Commission is developing implementation resources to support health services. If you wish to contact the Commission about resources that may support their implementation of the Module, please contact us with the details at environment@safetyandquality.gov.au.
Assessment
Health services wishing to be assessed to the Module will have a single assessment process with their primary set of safety and quality standards, such as the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. Health services wanting to address environmental sustainability and climate resilience can use the actions in the Module to support integrating strategies into their quality improvement frameworks.
The assessment framework for the Module will use maturity scale rating. Services will be rated against each action based on their level of maturity in integrating their adaptation and mitigation strategies. Assessments may assist health services in identifying their areas of focus when it comes to delivering high-quality care that is environmentally sustainable and climate resilient.
Health services that are assessed to the Module do not have an impact on their accreditation status to another set of standards.
Implementation
The Healthcare Sustainability and Climate Resilience Module is suitable for all health services implementing the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, the National Safety and Quality Primary Community Standards (NSQPCS) and the National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations (NSQMHSCMO).
Health services can implement the actions of the Module to support the development of their adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate and environmental risk. Health services may voluntarily be assessed against their implementation of the Module.
The Commission is developing implementation resources to support health services. If you wish to contact the Commission about resources that may support their implementation of the Module, please contact us with the details at environment@safetyandquality.gov.au.
Assessment
Health services wishing to be assessed to the Module will have a single assessment process with their primary set of safety and quality standards, such as the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. Health services wanting to address environmental sustainability and climate resilience can use the actions in the Module to support integrating strategies into their quality improvement frameworks.
The assessment framework for the Module will use maturity scale rating. Services will be rated against each action based on their level of maturity in integrating their adaptation and mitigation strategies. Assessments may assist health services in identifying their areas of focus when it comes to delivering high-quality care that is environmentally sustainable and climate resilient.
Health services that are assessed to the Module do not have an impact on their accreditation status to another set of standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
Questions or comments on the Commission's work related to climate change can be addressed to environment@safetyandquality.gov.au. You can also receive regular updates about the Commission’s work by subscribing to the Commission’s NSQHS Standards eNews and updates.