As a national leader in safety and quality improvement, the Commission is preparing to develop the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (third edition) to improve patient care into the future.
We are seeking your input to develop national standards that support effective, high-quality and patient-centred care for all Australians.
Consultation will commence in 2025 – stay tuned for details.
The Commission has drafted the Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resilience Healthcare Module as a framework of actions that health services can use to ensure their services are improving the safety and quality of care while addressing the health impacts of climate change and healthcare’s contribution to climate change.
Lessons learnt from the assessment of health service organisations to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
You can find out how your hospital performed at their last assessment to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
All Australian hospitals are assessed at least every three years to the NSQHS Standards. This process is known as accreditation.
The Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module is designed to support eligible Multi-Purpose Services to improve aged care delivery. With a focus on quality and compliance, it's designed to simplify meeting NSQHS Standards while improving resident outcomes.
To support implementation of the NSQHS Standards, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care provides guidance for the submission of applications, registrations, requests for extensions and notifications of risk.
Outlines the information for organisations seeking approval as an accrediting agency under the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme.
Specific requirements apply to newly established health service organisations being assessed to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
The awarding of exemplar practice is used to highlight examples of safe and good-quality practice in health services who are implementing the NSQHS Standards, to facilitate the sharing of information between organisations.
Awarding accreditation to a health service organisation provides assurance to the community that the organisation meets expected patient safety and quality standards.
Approved accrediting agencies assess health service organisations to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) Module, and/or the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework. These agencies are approved by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) following application and review by an approval panel.
All public and private hospitals, day procedure services and public dental practices are required to be accredited to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
Many other healthcare facilities will also choose to be accredited in order to improve the safety and quality of health care provision. Assessment to the NSQHS Standards second edition commenced in January 2019.
This course aims to provide an overview of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards for assessors and health service organisations' workforce. It is self-paced and includes learning material such as case studies, videos and tips for implementing the NSQHS Standards.
The Commission has a strong commitment to promote, support and encourage safety and quality in the provision of health care for people who experience mental health issues across all healthcare settings.
Health service organisations may brand locally developed resources with the NSQHS Standards logo and icons.
The Commission has developed a series of fact sheets for consumers and carers about the NSQHS Standards (second edition) and the accreditation process.
Establish processes to accurately identify and record Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status.
Building effective and ongoing relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations and groups that represent or service this population.
A welcoming environment in a health service organisation is about creating a place where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel safe, comfortable, accepted, and confident that they will be respected, will be listened to and will receive high-quality care.
Providing a supportive environment and clear processes for the workforce to explore the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients can be a significant step towards the development of a safe and respectful organisation, where patients, their families and other community members can feel comfortable to engage with and receive care.