Accreditation where it’s due
Eastern Health scores high on national standards review
Eastern Health announced Wednesday it has achieved Accredited with Commendation standing from Accreditation Canada, achieving a 97 per cent compliance rate with national standards.
“The achievement of this national standard demonstrates that Eastern Health is working toward excellence throughout our organization,” David Diamond, president and CEO of Eastern Health, stated in a news release.
“The accreditation process is one of continuous improvement to provide the highest quality of care possible for the patients, clients and staff we serve 365 days per year.”
Accreditation takes place every four years to assess a health organization’s compliance with national quality and safety standards in all areas of the system, including leadership, client and family centred care, emergency preparedness, infection prevention and control, and, most importantly, direct provision of care.
In September, Accreditation Canada surveyors visited 21 sites across the Eastern Health region, including hospitals, long-term care facilities and commun- ity-based offices.
The surveyors met with staff in 27 program areas, including cancer care, children and women’s health, community and supportive services, critical care, diagnostic imaging, emergency departments, fertility services, home care, laboratory services, mental health and addictions, organ donation program, paramedicine, pharmacy, public health and surgical services.
In its report, Accreditation Canada stated, “Eastern Health has gone beyond the requirements of the Qmentum accreditation program and is commended for its commitment to quality improvement … and its ongoing work to integrate accreditation into its operations to improve the quality and safety of its programs and services.”
Accreditation Canada also highlighted some key areas for improvement within the next several months, including policies pertaining to infusion pumps, use of abbreviations, analysis of patientsafety incidents and moving toward an electronic-based system from a paper file system in many areas where it can be more efficient for both time and resources.