The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) is an independent non-profit organization established in 1974 to improve healthcare quality in Australia through accreditation and review. It determines standards, accredits over 1,450 member organizations, and provides services for quality improvement. The key products and services include various accreditation programs, a clinical indicator program, consultancy, education, and hosting international delegations interested in learning about the Australian accreditation model.

3. AUSTRALIAN
COUNCIL ON
HEALTHCARE
STANDARDS

4. The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) is an
independent, not-for-profit organization, dedicated to improving
the quality of health care in Australia through continual review of
performance, assessment and accreditation.
Established in 1974, after many years of pioneering work from a
range of health care professionals including members of the
Australian Medical Association, medical colleges and the
Australian Hospital (now Healthcare) Association, the ACHS has
maintained its position as the principal independent authority on
the measurement and implementation of quality improvement
systems for Australian health care organizations.

5. Standards for evaluation, assessment and accreditation are
determined by a committee drawn from peak bodies in
health, representatives of government and consumers.
Over 1,450 member health care organizations, representing more
than 1,500 individual organizations, are members of ACHS quality
improvement programs. The ACHS is regularly consulted by other
countries in relation to standards development, accreditation
systems and clinical indicators, and hosts international
delegations. The ACHS provides a variety of products and services
for accreditation and quality improvement for the full range of
health care organizations

6. ACHS
Accreditation
programs

7. The Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP)
1. EQuIP National
2. EQuIP5
3. EQuIP5 Certification
4. EQuIP5 Day Procedure Centers
5. EQuIP5 Day Procedure Centers Certification
6. EQuIP5 Corporate Health Services
7. EQuIP5 Corporate Health Services Certification
8. EQuIP5 Corporate Member Services

8. Other
Accreditation
programs
1. National Safety and Quality Health Services Standards
(NSQHSS)
2. National Standards for Mental Health Services (NSHMS)
3. Common Community Care Standards (CSSS)
4. Department of Human Services Standards (Vic only)

9. Clinical Indicator

10. The ACHS Clinical Indicator Program is a data collection and
reporting service that assists organizations to measure and
manage an aspect of clinical care. Quality improvement is a major
focus in health care and ACHS Clinical Indicators provide a
measure of clinical performance and comparison with 'peer'
organizations
The Clinical Indicator program is freely available to ACHS and
ACHSI member organizations with non-member organizations also
participating.

11. Principles of all ACHS
programs

12. The principles upon which all ACHS programs are developed
reflect the characteristics displayed by an improving organization.
These principles can be applied to all aspects of service within an
organization.

13. A c o n s u me r
f oc us i n c a r e
pr ov i s i on i s
d e mo n s t r a t e d
by
1. Understanding the needs and expectation of present and
potential consumers / patients
2. Ensuring consumers / patients are the priority
3. Evaluating the service from the consumer / patient perspective

14. Ef f e c t i v e l e a de r s hi p
d e mo n s t r a t e s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
a n d c o mmi t me n t t o e x c e l l e n c e i n
c a r e pr ov i s i on, qua l i t y
i mp r o v e me n t a n d p e r f o r ma n c e b y :
1. Providing direction for the organization / health service
2. Pursuing the ongoing, development of strategies, systems and
methods for achieving excellence
3. Inspiring and motivating the workforce and encouraging
employees to contribute, develop and learn
4. Considering proposals that are innovative and creative

15. C o n t i n u o u s i mp r o v e me n t -
ma n a g e me n t a n d s t a f f
d e mo n s t r a t e h o w t h e y
c o n t i n u a l l y s t r i v e t o i mp r o v e
t h e q u a l i t y o f c a r e , Co n t i n u o u s
i mp r o v e me n t a s s i s t t h e
o rLooking forzways to improve as e a l t h of everyday c e
1. g a n i a t i o n / h an essential s e r v i
practice t hr ough:
2. Consistently achieving and maintaining quality care that meets
consumer / patient needs
3. Monitoring outcomes in consumer / patient care and seeking
opportunities to improve both the care and its results.

16. Evidence of outcomes -organizations depend on the measurement
and analysis of performance. I n d i c a t o r s o f
g o o d c a r e p r o c e s s e s o r , wh e r e v e r
p o s s i b l e , o u t c o me s o f
c a r e , d e mo n s t r a t e a c o mmi t me n t
t o ma i n t a i n i n g q u a l i t y a n d
s t r i v i ng f or ongoi ng
i mp r o v e me n t b y :
1. Providing critical data and information about key
processes, outputs and results
2. Reflecting those factors that lead to improved health and/or
quality of life for consumers / patients or to better
operational performance.

17. Product and services

18. The key products and services provided by ACHS International
include accreditation programs, the Clinical Indicator
Program, Consultancy and education on specialty topics.

19. ACHSI
Products
Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP)
The key components of EQuIP are:
1. The standards that organizations work to achieve;
2. a yearly self-assessment to evaluate performance against the
standards;
3. ACHSI assistance and guidance around the organization's self-
assessment;
4. biennial onsite surveys by an external, experienced team of
accreditation surveyors to provide an independent assessment
of the organization's performance against the standards, and
5. the improvement process undertaken by organizations to
address the recommendations from the on-site surveys.

20. ACHSI
services
1. Accreditation
2. Clinical Indicator Program
3. Training and Education
4. Consultancy Services
5. International Delegations

21. Accreditation
The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International
(ACHSI) provides a range of accreditation services focused on
the specific needs of each organization utilizing internationally
recognized standards that are focused on the key attributes of a
healthcare organization that is committed to the concept of
continuous quality improvement.
The principles upon which the ACHSI programs are developed
reflect the characteristics displayed by an improving organization
including:
1. a consumer focus in care and service provision;
2. effective leadership;
3. continuous improvement;
4. evidence of outcomes, and
5. striving for best practice.

22. Training and Education
ACHSI provides an extensive range of general and customized
educational and training activities on a wide range of subjects
covering every aspect of accreditation and healthcare including:
1. clinical and corporate governance systems;
2. safety and quality systems;
3. risk Management;
4. safety systems including occupational health and
safety, environment and equipment management and waste
management;
5. care planning including care pathways and the use of evidence;
6. infection control standards and systems;
7. information and documentation management systems;
8. introductory and advanced accreditation;
9. medication management;
10. consumer participation and engagement,
11. Credentialing and scope of clinical practice.
Each ACHSI topic is led by an ACHS Surveyor/Consultant with
expert knowledge of the topic. Expertise is drawn from a large
pool of consultants from Australia and Internationally.

23. Consultancy Services
The ACHSI provides a range of international consultancy
services including:
1. Standards development - e.g. Mental Health;
2. Hospital / health service commissioning preparation;
3. Hospital / health service quality systems gap analysis;
4. Quality systems action plans;
5. Clinical indicator collection and analysis, and
6. Assisting international accreditation agencies in systems
implementation.

24. International Delegations
The ACHSI continues to host a steady flow of overseas visiting
delegations interested in the Australian and international model of
accreditation. Recent interest and delegations have been from
Denmark, Japan, South Korea, Ireland, Malaysia, Sri
Lanka, Romania, China and Macau