The core accreditation program is the Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP), guiding organisations through a four year cycle of Self-Assessment, Organisation-Wide Survey and Periodic Review to meet ACHS standards.
The ACHS undertakes a comprehensive EQuIP standards review and consultation process every four years to ensure the standards remain current, continue to reflect best practice and evidence and are achievable.
The review process
Commencing in November 2004, the review of EQuIP 3rd edition and development of EQuIP 4 began with an examination of the relevant literature and a comparison of the EQuIP standards and criteria with those of the UK, Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Ireland, France and Japan. The ACHS established over ten different working groups as well as reference panels, expert advisory groups and focus groups throughout Australia for specific topics in addition to other consultative forums and pilot studies. The final version of EQuIP 4 was subsequently adopted by the Board in May 2006.
Through EQuIP 4 the focus of the program has been strengthened in relation to clinical care and consumer participation. As part of the effort to increase the clinical focus of EQuIP the arrangement of the EQuIP 3rd edition standards into six topic areas, known as functions, has been restructured into three topic areas: clinical, support and corporate, for EQuIP 4.
The ACHS is confident that EQuIP 4 is a clear step forward in improving the safety and quality of health care in Australia. The Standards address the safety and quality issues identified as national priorities.
