What is accreditation?
Dental practice accreditation is a self-initiated process that, once completed, represents a level of safety and quality that exceeds expectations. It is an independent and voluntary recognition of private dental practices for their commitment towards best practice, high performing systems and processes, infection control and continuous improvement.
This program is a collaboration between ADA (Australian Dental Association) and QIP (Quality Innovation Performance) to guarantee patients and clients that they are choosing a practice that adheres to high standards. It is a requirement to comply with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) version 2 standards from one to six. The primary aim of the standards is to protect the public from harm and improve the quality of care in Australian health organisations.
ADHPL has done this accreditation process three times, and we have achieved full compliance with all standards every time. We have also voluntarily called an independent auditor to critically examine our practice and standards, and we met all the required standards in our very first attempt.
What are the NSQHS standards?
Clinical Governance Standard
To maintain and increase the quality of patient care through policies and governance. At ADHPL we have created a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) document, which entails the strict policies and regulations we adhere to for the patients, staff, and the surgical environment. This includes infection control, radiation safety, clinical record keeping and more to ensure a high standard of care.
Partnering with Consumers Standard
To create a patient-centred practice which uses patient feedback to improve the practice. At ADHPL, our values are evidence-based and patient-centric, and we have distributed hundreds of patient surveys for our self-improvement, receiving a high rate of satisfaction.
Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard
To maintain high levels of infection control through proper policies and systems, which we have achieved with our detailed sterilization procedures and use of technologies such as ozone water for cleaning – completely chemical free, extremely potent and environmentally friendly.
Medication Safety Standard
To correctly prescribe and administer medication to patients. At ADHPL we believe in informed valid consent, where the patient is always informed about his/her dental condition, treatment and any medications required for safe and effective treatment.
Comprehensive Care Standard
To ensure accurate identification of patients and appropriate treatment allocation, ADHPL maintains thorough clinical records for every patient and each visit, both digitally and in hard copy. This process ensures that your identity is consistently matched with the right treatment.
Communicating for Safety Standard
To ensure timely, purpose-driven and effective communication and documentation that supports continuous, coordinated and safe care for patients. We aim to communicate effectively between clinicians and use the proper procedure and strategies to transfer the responsibilities of a patient’s case from one clinician to another. At ADHPL we believe in timely and concise communication to provide the patient with the best possible treatment.
For more information about accreditation
visit the ADA website: http://adawa.com.au/your-dental-health/practice-accreditation/
or the QIP website: https://www.qip.com.au/find-the-right-accreditation/private-dental-practice-accreditation/