In-Depth Reviews Using EQuIP

The ACHS is able to offer assistance to specialist health care organisations by offering an in-depth review in addition to the services available through membership of EQuIP.

What is an Indepth Review?

An indepth review is conducted by the ACHS to determine how well specialist services eg mental health services, pallative care, pharmacotherapy services have addressed the ACHS standards and the relevant ACHS Guidelines. The in-depth review is designed for specialist services participating in the ACHS Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP).

In some cases the need for an external review of a specialist service is a funding requirement. For example, the funding agreement between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories includes the requirement that mental health services implement the National Mental Health Standards and undergo external review. The ACHS is able to undertake these external reviews as in-depth reviews.

The benefits of an in-depth review include:

• The application of best practice within the organisation's quality program
• Providing external consultancy advice from expert peers for the pursuit of best practice
• Offering a service specific framework on which to build strategic / business plans for the services
• Providing the opportunity to demonstrate achievements to management, the community and other stakeholders of health care services.
• Allowing the opportunity to continuously improve

While EQuIP 4 includes the review of all parts of the organisation, some specialist services may want a more detailed assessment of their performances using the ACHS standards and relevant specialist guidelines for that particular service. The in-depth review, undertaken by a surveyor(s) with a background in the specialist service, is valuable in helping to improve services and to demonstrate to all stakeholders that the service provides quality and safe care and service. Services undertaking an in-depth review may be rewarded a Certificate of Recognition of the application of the specialist guidelines.

Guidelines have been developed to assist service providers in applying the ACHS standards and criteria. These guidelines include:

·          Multidisciplinary Pain Clinics  (Australian Pain Society 1999)

·          Pharmacotherapy Clinics ( NSW Centre for Drug and Alcohol 2000)

·          Palliative Care (Palliative Care Australia 1999)

·          Mental Health Services (National Mental Health Working Group 1996)

Please contact your Customer Services Manager to obtain further information about In Depth Reviews.