The ACHS International Quality Program (based on the ACHS Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program - EQuIP) is a four-year quality improvement program for health care organisations to work towards achieving accreditation and improving care.

The key components are:

·          the international standards that organisations work towards achieving

·          a yearly self-assessment of performance against those standards

·          assistance and feedback on a desktop review of self-assessments

·          onsite surveys by an external, experienced team of accreditation surveyors to provide an independent assessment  of performance against the international standards

·          the development of a quality action plan by the organisation which forms part of the improvement process undertaken by organisations to address the recommendations from the onsite surveys.

The principles upon which the Program is developed and the characteristics displayed by an improving organisation are:

·          patient focus

·          effective leadership

·          a culture of improving

·          evidence of outcomes

·          striving for best practice.