An official review is complete and the SHR (Sunrise Health Region) has passed with flying colors.
Accreditation Canada has advised the Sunrise Health Region that the health region has met or exceeded national standards for quality health services and that all conditions required for accreditation have been achieved.
Accreditation Canada is a non-profit independent association which, based on standards of excellence, provides national and international health care organizations with an external peer review process to assess and improve services. Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary.
Every three years SHR undergoes documentation review and on-site survey by Accreditation Canada. To be accredited the health region must demonstrate advancement in six patient safety areas of safety culture, communication, medication use, worklife and workforce, infection control, and risk assessment. For each of these areas the region must comply with a set of thirty-one Required Organizational Practices (ROPs) pre-determined by Accreditation Canada to be best practices applicable to all health care service providers.
Preparing to achieve accreditation is an ongoing commitment by SHR managers, physicians and staff members, says Suann Laurent, Chief Executive Officer for the SHR.
"Between survey years, fifteen quality improvement teams continuously monitor and guide improvements to safety and quality, and the Board receives regular progress reports. It is the application of quality principles and practices by all health care workers which ultimately leads to accreditation status.
"I am extremely proud of our quality improvement teams and all Sunrise staff who, through great effort and dedication, made our accreditation achievement possible," adds Laurent, Chief Executive.
"By working together towards a common goal, Sunrise Health Region is continuing our mission to improve the health and well-being of individuals and the provision of high quality health services."
The health region will next be surveyed by Accreditation Canada in 2012, when the number of Required Organizational Practices will expand to thirty-five.
