MEDIA RELEASE

Monday 27 March 2006

New partnerships to improve safety and quality in health care

The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) and the Australasian Association for Quality in Health Care (AAQHC) have entered into an exciting partnership to co-host the 4th Australasian Conference on Safety and Quality in Health Care 'Raising the Bar for Quality' in Melbourne, 21 - 23 August 2006.

ACHS Chief Executive Brian Johnston commented today, “We’re delighted to be partnering with the AAQHC as well as the Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Health Care and the Department of Human Services, Victoria in presenting an exciting program featuring international and local experts, including Adjunct Professor Lucian Leape.  The 2006 conference is set to be the most rewarding yet, with a record number of abstracts received. It is an ideal opportunity to participate in skill and knowledge improvement workshops as well as insightful plenary sessions.”  

The partnership with AAQHC is also reflected in their successful approach to the ACHS for representation on Council. All votes received were in favour of the AAQHC joining the ACHS Council. 

 “Given the shared vision of improving safety and quality in health care, it is a logical step to include the AAQHC on the ACHS Council and I am not surprised the Council (which comprises representatives from peak health care bodies) felt the AAQHC would positively contribute to the mission of the ACHS,” Brian Johnston commented.

Ms Kathleen Ryan, Vice President of the AAQHC and representative on the ACHS Council said today, “We’re delighted to be able to represent our members and contribute to the ongoing development of standards, accreditation and performance measurement and improvement in Australian health care organisations.”

For more information on the 4th Australasian Conference on Safety and Quality in Health Care 'Raising the Bar for Quality' in Melbourne, Australia 21 - 23 August 2006, please visit the website at: http://www.sapmea.asn.au/conventions/sqhc2006/

The ACHS is Australia's leading health care accreditation agency and is recognised by the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) for both its standards and accreditation program. ACHS member organisations represent 84% of public beds, 94% of private beds and 87% of all available beds in Australian health services.* Over 1000 individual hospitals and health care organisations across Australia are members of ACHS quality improvement programs.

For further information please call Megan Taylor, ACHS Manager, Communications, on 02 9281 9955 or 0416 280 826

The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards

5 Macarthur Street Ultimo NSW Australia

Telephone 61 2 9281 9955  Facsimile 61 2 9211 9633

E-mail achs@achs.org.au Website http://www.achs.org.au