Assessment methodologies adopted in the assessment of healthcare services to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards are specified or approved by the Commission.
Desktop assessments
Accrediting agencies will use an assessment methodology that has been approved by the Commission when conducting desktop assessments.
The Commission may also issue guidance for conducting desktop assessments from time to time.
On-site and virtual assessments
PICMoRS is a mnemonic that was designed to help assessors to undertake assessment for accreditation under the AHSSQA Scheme. Originally developed for assessment to the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, it stands for:
- Process;
- Improvement;
- Consumer participation;
- Monitoring;
- Reporting and Systems.
When undertaking or participating in virtual assessments, accrediting agencies and healthcare services must follow guidance issued by the Commission in relation to virtual assessments.
Hybrid assessments
Where the model of assessment to the Primary and Community Healthcare Standards involves an on-site assessment component, hybrid assessments may be utilised in limited circumstances.
A hybrid assessment is a model of assessment where part of an accreditation assessment team is on site at a healthcare service, and part of an assessment team participates using virtual access digital technology. Hybrid assessments may be conducted in exceptional circumstances where:
- There is restricted access to all or part of a healthcare service due to public health orders or similar restrictions
- The safety of patients and assessors is affected because the healthcare service is considered high risk
- There are public health or border restrictions limiting movement of assessors across state and territory borders
- An on-site assessment has commenced but cannot be completed due to changes in public health or border restrictions. Delay of an on-site assessment would not allow sufficient time for a healthcare service’s accreditation assessment to be completed prior to the current accreditation expiry date.
Hybrid assessment may also be considered for a healthcare service providing services over wide ranging, geographically remote locations. In some situations, hybrid assessments may assist to strengthen and make assessment processes more efficient. Accrediting agencies may apply to conduct hybrid assessments for these services where there is evidence of centralised, systematic clinical governance and management systems, policies and processes.
Prior approval from the Commission must be sought prior to on-site assessments being conducted via hybrid assessment. Accrediting agencies and healthcare services must follow guidance issued by the Commission in relation to virtual assessments.
2023
Fact sheet or brochure
2023
Fact sheet or brochure