What is accreditation?

Accreditation is an important way for members of the public to know that a healthcare provider has met certain safety and quality standards.

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The successful attainment of international accreditation signifies to patients that a healthcare organisation has undergone a rigorous evaluation and met high standards for patient safety and quality of care. Obtaining accreditation is a significant decision and requires a dedicated effort from the entire organisation. It provides organisations with the tools, prestige, and credibility necessary to implement effective practices, attract and retain top medical talent, and minimise costs.

Five Key Elements

Accreditation systems comprise the following:

Governance or stewardship function
A standards-setting process
A process of external evaluation of compliance against those standards
A remediation or improvement process following the review
Promotion of continuous quality improvement.

Frequently asked questions about accreditation

What is accreditation?

It’s the status a healthcare organisation receives after a successful third party external evaluation by a recognised body. It indicates that the organisation has met relevant pre-determined and published standards.

Is accreditation similar to an audit?

No. While our accreditation does require an organisation to meet certain standards, it’s also about continuous improvement. Our accreditation isn’t about ticking the boxes and staying at the same level of performance. It’s about establishing a structure and processes that allow quality and safety to consistently improve over time.

What is the purpose of accreditation?

Accreditation has several benefits. Importantly, it offers peace of mind to people who are choosing a healthcare provider; a way of knowing that the provider has met the very latest industry standards and is therefore likely to provide a high quality of care.

Accreditation also helps minimise risk and improve outcomes in the healthcare sector by setting standards that organisations can aspire to. Becoming accredited is a great way for an organisation to focus on improving its overall performance.

How can I learn about an organisation’s accreditation performance?

Relevant and appropriate information from accredited assessments is generally made publicly available by the healthcare organisation.

Who should correct poor performance?

Accreditation programs provide information that helps an organisation identify and improve performance. However, it’s up to the organisation itself to put a structure in place to monitor and improve its health and safety.