The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has developed the Multi-Purpose Services Aged Care Module to support eligible Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) meet their accreditation obligations via a streamlined assessment process.
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 exemptions, 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 and Trauma Recovery Programme (TRP) Standards. 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 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.
Private dental practices are currently assessed against the first edition on the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. This arrangement will continue until the National Safety and Quality Primary Healthcare (NSQPH) Standards become available.
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.
Future update and consultations will be added to this section. If you require assistance locating resources, please contact the Safety and Quality Advice Centre.
The primary aims of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards are to protect the public from harm and to improve the quality of health service provision. Implementation is mandated in all hospitals, day procedure services and public dental services across Australia. When used in assessment they provide a quality assurance mechanism that tests whether relevant systems are in place to ensure that expected standards of safety and quality are met.
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.
Under direction of the governing body, the health service organisation ensures that the agreed priorities to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health are implemented.
The governing body has ultimate responsibility for the safety and quality of a health service organisation. Setting priorities for the health service organisation, including priorities for its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers, is one way a governing body can direct effort and resources to improve care.