|
Accreditation provides external evaluation of the quality of the processes within general practice. Practices choose to become accredited to ensure they are recognised for providing safe, high quality patient care measured against established standards. RACGP Entry Standards for General Practice
The RACGP Standards for General Practice form one of the benchmarks for quality and safety in general practice and provide future directions for quality improvement.
Practices initially register for accreditation with one of the two recognised accreditation organisations in Australia.
Australian General Practice Accreditation Ltd (AGPAL)
General Practice Australia Accreditation plus (GPA Accreditation plus)
Practices then undertake a cycle of accreditation that involves:
- self-assessment against agreed standards
- peer review surveys (practice visits) of the practice's organisation and facilities
- commencement of a continuous quality improvement cycle
A practice is accredited on successfully completing the peer review survey.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed a proposed National Safety and Quality Framework that will also guide action to improve the care provided in all health care settings including general practice.
 Top
General Practice Network South (gpns) offers support and practical advice to assist GPs and the practice team at any stage of the accreditation and re-accreditation process. This includes:
- practice visits
- a mock-survey visit in the lead-up to an accreditation visit
- preparation check lists
- phone help desk
- patient feedback survey analysis
Top
|
