Accreditation in First Nations Communities Benefits & Challenges

Panel Presentation at FNHMADebra Gillis and Jennifer Greene

Outline of Panel Presentation

• By the end of this panel presentation, you will:• Learn about accreditation, what is involved and how FNIHB

supports accreditation• Understand the benefits and challenges of accreditation• Hear from three separate communities which have made

the decision to undertake accreditation, the challenges they overcame along the way and the benefits that they have experienced

• Have an opportunity to ask questions

Accreditation is…

• an ongoing journey or process that health organizations use to assess and improve the quality of their services in a team environment

• a tool that examines everyday activities and services against standards of excellence (It is not a monitoring service)

• a means to provide valuable measures to use within and among organizations

• a voluntary process

History of Accreditation and FNIHB

• Previously, FNIHB was involved in two separate streams of accreditation: addictions treatment centres (NNADAP and YSAC) and community health services

• First Nations and Inuit health services accreditation is now united as one system and supports a holistic view of health

• Less than 10 organizations engaged in 2004• 104 by start of 2012:

• 43 NNADAP and YSAC Treatment Centres• 61 Community Health Centres

Trends in Accreditation of FN Community Health Centres and Treatment Centres -

National

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2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

CHCTC

Trends in Accreditation

Regional Trends of Community Health Centre Accreditation

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BC AB SK MB ON QC Atl

2006-72007-82008-92009-102010-112011-122012-13

Trends in Accreditation

Benefits of Accreditation

Challenges with Accreditation

• Gaining support from community leaders, stakeholders, service providers and clients to undertake the lengthy and time- consuming process

• Managing the process (2+ years) and maintaining momentum in between cycles of accreditation (3-4 years)

• Understanding the requirements and language of the accreditation process and standards

How FNIHB Supports Accreditation

• Dedicated Regional Accreditation Manager (RAM) in every region

• Funding to support communities engaged in the process• Reimbursement of accreditation invoices

FNIHB Funding Support

• Organizations provided directly with funds to support accreditation process in the community

• Invoices from accrediting bodies are also paid.• Organizations will NOT lose accreditation funding upon receipt

of a “non-accreditation” award, as long as they remain in the process and continue to make improvements towards reaching accredited status

Regional Accreditation Managers

• Provide support for the accreditation process• Assist with capacity building• Provide networking and mentoring opportunities• Allocate funds to organizations to support the accreditation

process• Locate and disseminate resources/information• Identify links with community health planning

Summary

• Accreditation is a voluntary and continuous process that will help improve health services, decision making, communication and linkages

• There are challenges and there is support to overcome those challenges

• It is a priority of the branch to support community health centres in the accreditation process