TDH Earns Accreditation

TDH Earns Accreditation

Tairawhiti District Health is operating at a standard over and above the Government’s requirements, one of the country’s most testing health audits has confirmed.

Quality Health New Zealand on Friday awarded Tairawhiti District Health Accreditation for three years, effectively giving the organisation a stamp of approval.

“We know that TDH already provides high quality care but getting Accreditation is the official recognition we needed to prove it,” said Tairawhiti District Health Board Chairwoman Ingrid Collins.

“The work and enthusiasm staff have shown is hugely appreciated and most importantly the people of this community are the ones to benefit.”

Mrs Collins said Accreditation indicates which District Health Boards have methods in place to continuously improve service.

“This process is all part of building community confidence in health and disability services.”

Mrs Collins said before the Accreditation Survey in May, staff carried out internal self assessments to ascertain whether there were any gaps in service, or what they could do to improve the care they offer.

During the four-day 10-person Quality Health New Zealand survey, public who may have been in hospital at the time were also asked to take part and offer feedback on quality of care.

Straight after the survey, work began at TDH on an Accreditation action plan.

Initial work focussed on high priority areas highlighted by the survey team and later written up in the official Accreditation survey report.

Work included strengthening informed consent processes, tightening one physical security procedure for the removal of health waste, and improving access to specialist pathology services.

Mrs Collins said staff have reason to be proud of their achievements but she cautioned that the hard work had to continue.

“Accreditation is part of the quality journey and we will continue to review and improve on what we are doing.”

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