anaesthesia clinical services accreditation

Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation

Peer review for quality improvement

Guidance B l Version 1 l May 2013

Presentation for departments of anaesthesia

Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)Guidance B – Benefits of Peer-Review For Quality Improvement

What is Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)?

• A voluntary scheme for NHS and independent sector organisations

• Quality improvement through peer review

• A period of self-assessment and then improvement, with support from the College

• Working towards the goal of becoming an accredited department

Guidance B l Version 1 l May 2013Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)Guidance B – Benefits of Peer-Review For Quality Improvement

How Much Does It Cost?

• Typical subscription of £2,500 per year

• Initial term of engagement of four years

• Potential supplementary charges for large or complex organisations discussed and agreed in advance by College and organisation


Why Become Accredited? (1)• A pro-active, structured process for improving services.• The benefit of expert advisory review on-site and help toward compliance• A process to self-check local guidelines and standards against nationally

recognised standards• Direct feedback on service delivery in comparison with other anonymised

providers• Engagement in service improvement from staff within the department

and at management level• Year-on-year comparison with local, regional and national standards of

performance• Access to a network of accredited departments willing to share best

practice and service improvement initiatives• Clarity on resource requirements


Why Become Accredited? (2)• Commissioner recognised enthusiasm for service improvement• Accredited departments will project a more attractive professional

environment to potential employees and trainees• Accredited departments will have a positive ACSA report to support

funding and resource bids• ACSA contributes to meeting the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and

Prevention programme (QIPP)• Accreditation provides evidence that may support future Commissioning

for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payments• In England, CQC recognises accredited departments as low-risk. Similar

recognition is being sought from Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales

• Additional recognition being is being discussed at NHSLA and NICE


How do I contribute?• Self-assessment against the ACSA standards

– what kind of a service are we really delivering?– What are our strengths and weaknesses?– Submission of the self assessment using the ACSA online tool

• Improvement – what and how can we improve?– Some improvements will be straight forward to implement, even before the department

is engaged with ACSA– Other improvements will take more effort and the College will offer help– A whole-team approach will be essential

• Communication with colleagues – clinical and non-clinical– Involving as many people as possible from the start will make it easier to identify

problem areas– Wider input is the key to implementing improvements


How do I contribute?• Host an on-site review

– An ACSA review team will come to the department to carry out a gap-analysis and offer advice

– The gap-analysis is designed to help, through having open discussions about areas of non-compliance and offering support to address them

– Honesty and openness are essential during the review

• Use the ACSA Guidance— There are support documents and guidance for all stages of the ACSA process available

online at www.rcoa.ac.uk/acsa


http://www.rcoa.ac.uk/acsa

What’s in it for the College?• Greater engagement with departments • Updating College guidelines from direct feedback • Data gathering on a national level• Creation of a national accreditation standard • Integration with key stakeholders including patients and regulators • Engagement with other accreditation bodies to consider wider healthcare

implications• Proactivity recognised by national bodies representing regulation,

governance, indemnity, and political positions


Quality Circle of Good Practice

ANAESTHESIA DEPARTMENT

QUALITY

‘CLEAR’ GUIDELINES

G.P.A.S.

‘EXPERT’ EXTERNAL

ACCREDITATION A.C.S.A

‘IMPROVED’ PRACTICE Outcome Measures

‘GUIDED’ SELF AUDIT A.R.B.


More informationwww.rcoa.ac.uk/acsa

[email protected]

020 7092 1574


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