Inspiro Community Health Service was awarded the inaugural QIP Russell Renhard Scholarship for their project Making Better Connections – Urban Indigenous Health Promotion: Improving Referral Pathways in the Outer East in late 2012.

Barb Dobson, Inspiro’s Project Manager and Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer,
presenting on the project at the recent QIP Community Networking Event in Melbourne

Located on the ancestral lands of the Wurundjeri peoples, Inspiro is a not-for-profit community health service dedicated to providing health, wellbeing and dental services to the Yarra Ranges community in Victoria. Key services sites are situated at Lilydale and Tecoma, while a new redevelopment will provide expanded services at Belgrave.

With our 2017 QIP Russell Renhard Scholarship recipient (Annie North Ltd) and runner up (Cobaw Community Health) commencing their planned projects, our team would like to take the time reflect on and celebrate the achievements, learnings and outcomes made by Inspiro as a result of their Scholarship initiative.

Inspiro’s Making Better Connections Project was developed in response to a request from the local Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisation, Healesville Indigenous Services Community Organisation (HICSA). The overall goal of the Making Better Connections Project was to improve access to culturally responsive health services and contribute to better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in the Outer East Melbourne area of Healesville and surrounds. The Department of Health and Human Services divides the state of Victoria into seven regions with Healesville and surrounds belonging to the Eastern Metropolitan Region.

The project had two main aims: to translate the theory and principle of cultural respect into practice which supports improved access to local health services; and, to improve culturally appropriate referral systems for Aboriginal residents from Healesville and the surrounding areas.

Project development, implementation, evaluation and reporting were constructed to reflect local Aboriginal cultural values and revolved around four essential project design elements: foundational core cultural values of respect, caring and sharing, a participatory action research methodology modified to incorporate dadirri principles and a systems approach to service improvement.

The Making Better Connections Project has achieved a range of outcomes both intended and unintended. Activities and dialogue connected to the project have also contributed to other projects underway in the Eastern region. The current project has influenced thinking at the strategic level, raised options for project collaboration at the regional level, and contributed to a range of outcomes for the local community.

The research identified a range of activities that could be implemented to improve access to services for local Aboriginal community members, varying from local to regional environments.

Key project achievements encompassed:

• Responsiveness
• Importance of Place
• Translating Cultural Respect
• Improved Pathways
• Information Access
• Resource Tensions
• Local Service Communication

NOTE: For specific details regarding each achievements, CLICK HERE to download the full Making Better Connections Urban Indigenous Health Promotion: Improving Referral Pathways in the Outer East project report.

In addition to these achievements, there were three tiers identified, highlighting opportunities for action to be taken to improve access to local and regional health service for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members in Healesville and surrounds.

One area of particular mention, was the identification of need for sustained and cohesive efforts to both improve and embed cultural competence at organisational and practitioner levels. Translating the theory of cultural respect into effective practice implies, and requires, cultural competence. To be effective and visible, cultural competence needs to be embedded in the organisations providing service to local community.

While the Closing the Health Gap initiative contributed to a range of positive changes, there remains a need for organisations to systemically embed cultural competence.

The Eastern Region has made significant steps forward in building organisational cultural capacity.

Three tiers of identified opportunities for action

CLICK HERE to view each action and proposed recommendations in the project report and to gain an in-depth understanding into the importance of the need for local, co-located, integrated, Aboriginal community controlled service delivery and the need for sustained and cohesive efforts to both improve and embed cultural competence at organisational and practitioner levels. Since the provision of these recommendations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members of the Outer East Melbourne area of Healesville and surrounds have seen further improvements to the access of culturally responsive health services and contribute to better health outcomes. These improvements have specifically resulted from:

• Strong leadership and advocacy from the HICSA Board and management supported by Inspiro and Yarra Ranges Council to State government
• A commitment to dadirri and a participatory action research approach
• Increased recognition of the need to understand and incorporate Indigenous Ways of Knowing Being and Doing.
• The involvement of Traditional custodians in the early project and subsequent activities
• Regional leadership and partnering via key networks
• Increased operational attention to embedding cultural safety in organisations
• Commitment to, and investment by local and regional organisations into the Integrated Service Delivery Hub project
• Expansion of services available from HICSA, including outreach services from other providers
• Increased communication between HICSA, Eastern Health and HICCI
• Joint planning of specific community events by HICSA and Eastern Health
• Investment of DHHS and philanthropic funding into HICSA programming
• The release and circulation of The Urban Indigenous Community report where findings from the Making Better connections report were used to inform the development of a Cultural Evaluation Framework
• The development of draft standards for use by Aboriginal community organisations to assist their colleagues in improving culturally safe service delivery.

Although the project time period has lapsed, the research, learnings and outcomes are still resulting in positive implications to this day. QIP congratulates Inspiro on the exceptional undertaking of their initiative and look forward to hearing of future updates and are honoured to have been able to contribute in a small way to the implementation of this work.

It is important to note that this project was only made possible with immense team effort and community collaboration. Numerous stakeholders were involved, with special recognition to be given to Barb Dobson, Project Manager and Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer, from Inspiro.

Download the full project report Making Better Connections Urban Aboriginal Health Promotion: Improving referral pathways in the Outer East May 2015, by CLICKING HERE and for further details relating to Inspiro’s Making Better Connections Project, please contact Barb Dobson via email at hello@inspiro.org.au.

About Russell Renhard

Russell Renhard was a pioneer in the development of quality improvement and capacity building approaches within health and community organisations across Australia. Throughout his career Russell dedicated his effort and expertise to addressing social justice, and supporting systems‐based approaches, promoting access to quality services for all. Russell never stopped believing that change was possible and that a more equitable society could be achieved. It was this belief that sustained his efforts and underpinned his vision.

Changing systems and cultures requires people to think and act outside of the status quo. The Russell Renhard Scholarship will support and reward applicants that embody the spirit of the quality improvement pioneers, those who are “passionate, assertive, visionary and persistent”. Activities of those who receive the Scholarship will address issues of social justice and support systems‐based approaches that promote access to quality human services for all. We all make a difference in the world; the choice for each and every one of us is what difference we want to make.

The Russell Renhard Scholarship honours the significant contribution made by Russell to health and social services, accreditation and continuous quality improvement; this Scholarship allows a legacy to be created for celebrating Russell’s life as well as recognising contributions to causes Russell felt so passionately about.

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Cyber threats are feeling closer to home than ever before with more than 150 countries targeted in the largest known virtual software attack in mid-May, impacting and holding ransom to more than 200,000 individual systems.^[1] The greatest impact has been seen in the United Kingdom, with the National Health Service forced to cancel hospital operations, deter patients from presenting in E&T and diversion of ambulances from facilities struggling to cope, after computer access to patient files, scans and test results became frozen and inaccessible. Hospitals, general practices and allied health services were forced to shut down when access to patient records were unobtainable and prescription of medicines was near impossible.^[2]

In 2012, hackers undertook an attack on Miami Family Medical Centre, located on the Gold Coast, encrypting data and demanding $4,000 in ransom to release all systems. Although back-up disks and practice programs were corrupted, the functioning back-up system which was not connected to the server ensured all data was retrieved with no records stolen.^[3]

Following the peak of this global attack, the Australian Federal Government has confirmed three private businesses have been affected, stressing the importance of information security on computer systems and maintenance of antivirus software to protect against likely future attacks.

The attack exploited vulnerability in Microsoft Windows’ infrastructure infiltrating a software bug into those systems which had not been upgraded, after a repair patch was released in March of this year. The major issue highlighted by this occurrence is the limited understanding of IT infrastructure and security requirements by organisational staff.

As health care providers, computer systems play a central role in day-to-day activities within a practice setting and hold a wealth of personal and sensitive information regarding your patient population. With the looming threat of more cyber attacks set to occur in our digital world, this malicious incident indicates that now is the time to review your current computer security systems, backups and processes to ensure your practice is protected from a pending attack.

AGPAL and QIP’s IT team have identified the top 4 tips to start mitigating your risk when it comes to cyber-attacks and computer and data security.

(Click on image to enlarge)

For more information regarding your accreditation requirements or the topics outlined in this feature, please contact our QIP team, call 1300 888 329 or email info@qip.com.au.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is seeking feedback on draft resources to support the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (second edition) via public consultation until mid-to-late May 2017.

The Standards, along with drafted resources to assist with preparing for and implementing systems and processes for assessment against the Standards, are planned to be launched in November 2017 by the Commission. Assessments against the new edition of the Standards will commence in January 2019.

Draft resources and consultation dates

The consultation period closes on 19 May 2017 for the following resources:

NSQHS Standards (second edition) guide for hospitals

• Consultation Draft NSQHS Standards guide for hospitals and consultation instructions (PDF 6MB) (Word 6MB)
• Online survey

NSQHS Standards (second edition) accreditation workbook for hospitals

• Consultation Draft NSQHS Standards accreditation workbook for hospitals and consultation instructions (PDF 2MB) (Word 377KB)
• Online survey

The consultation process closes on 24 May 2017 for the following resources:

NSQHS Standards (second edition) guide for day procedure services

• Consultation draft NSQHS Standards guide for day procedure services (PDF 2MB) (Word 6MB)
• Online survey

NSQHS Standards (second edition) guide for multi-purpose services and small rural hospitals

• Consultation draft NSQHS Standards guide for multi-purpose services and small rural hospitals (PDF 4MB) (Word 6MB)
• Online survey

Be sure to review the relevant documentation and provide your feedback to input into the development of the new Standards and associated resources.

For any queries relating to these documents of the review process, contact the NSQHS via:
E: NSQHSStandards@safetyandquality.gov.au

P: 1800 304 056.

This information has been retrieved from:
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/assessment-to-the-nsqhs-standards/national-standards-program-updates-and-consultations/

Does your organisation have aspirations to increase inclusivity and celebrate diversity?

The HOW2 create lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) inclusive services program provides practical support to enable organisations to work towards these goals.  Four sessions held six weeks apart provides participants with increased knowledge and capacity in:

1. Auditing your service
2. Consulting consumers
3. Educating colleagues
4. Developing and implementing an action plan
5. Managing obstacles
6. Evaluating changes

This program, presented by SHine SA, is based on the Rainbow Tick national standards developed by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria (GLHV), in conjunction with QIP (Quality, Innovation & Performance).

For more information or to secure your attendance please contact Holley Skene (holley.skene@shinesa.org.au or 08 8300 5325) or visit www.shinesa.org.au/courses/how2/)

With a large number of high calibre submissions, our judging panel has now made their decision and we are proud to announce our 2017 QIP Russell Renhard Scholarship recipient.

We would have liked to support numerous organisations with the progression of their nominated project as it was extremely challenging for our judging panel to select a Scholarship recipient, as many of the projects have the potential to significantly improve community health and wellbeing.

For this reason our judging panel have awarded one organisation the 2017 QIP Russell Renhard Scholarship and identified a second organisation as an additional recipient. Annie North, from Bendigo Victoria, is our 2017 QIP Russell Renhard Scholarship recipient and Cobaw Community Health, from Kyneton Victoria, has also been recognised as part of the Scholarship process.

Russell Renhard was a pioneer in the development of quality improvement and capacity building approaches within health and community organisations across Australia. Throughout his career Russell dedicated his effort and expertise to addressing social justice, and supporting systems-based approaches, promoting access to quality services for all.

The Russell Renhard Scholarship honours the significant contribution made by Russell to health and social services, accreditation and continuous quality improvement. This Scholarship allows a legacy to be created for celebrating Russell’s life as well as recognising contributions to causes Russell felt so passionately about.

Annie North will keep us up-to-date with the progress of their project, which will see them develop a purpose built secure women’s refuge facility, driven by a new model of response to women and children fleeing family violence. The model will be captured and documented so that effective monitoring and evaluation can occur along with further enhancements, with an ultimate aim of sharing and implementing this model across other industry agencies.

Cobaw Community Health have also received a small amount of funding to support their project ‘Sharing the Wisdom of Families’ as they seek to recognise the lived experience of families experiencing complex challenges in their lives as a tool for change – for individuals, for families and for organisations.

Please refer to upcoming editions of QIP’s Community Insight, website and social media channels for updates regarding the work being undertaken by these two community organisations as part of the QIP Russell Renhard Scholarship.

There are four levels of attainment used when assessing an organisation against the Quality Improvement Council (QIC) Standards. These attainment levels provide an overall rating for each Standard and comprise of exceeded, met, met in part and not met.

An organisation has exceeded the Standard if:

1. MET rating descriptors have been achieved; AND
2. Routine review and evaluation occur, including the use of findings to drive continuous improvement; AND
3. Comprehensive use of currently recognised good practice supporting positive outcomes, occurs; AND
4. Formal recognition has been received for achievements; OR
5. Contribution to learning and innovation in the external environment has occurred; OR
6. Participation in a recognised benchmarking process has occurred.

When completing accreditation all QIC Standards must be met, however an exceeded rating can be achieved against any of the 18 QIC Standards. Often clients will achieve one or two exceeded ratings, which is always very exciting for our Quality Innovation Performance (QIP) staff to see.

QIP would like to congratulate Centacare Catholic Family Services Archdiocese of Adelaide (Centacare SA) who recently completed their sixth round of accreditation against the QIC Standards. Six rounds of accreditation is an achievement in itself, as it takes a great deal of time and effort to complete, yet during their recent accreditation assessment, Centacare accomplished exceeded ratings against seven of the QIC Standards.

Centacare SA is the official community service agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide that delivers responsive, flexible and effective services to the South Australian community without regard to religion, race, culture or economic circumstance. Programs are offered in a range of sectors including disability, family, youth and children, health and well being, employment, education and training, homelessness and domestic violence located in Adelaide metropolitan, suburban and regional areas of South Australia.

The QIC Standards that were exceeded by Centacare SA are:

• Standard 1.2 Management systems
• Standard 1.9 Safety and Quality integration
• Standard 2.2 Focusing on positive outcomes
• Standard 2.4 Confirming consumer rights
• Standard 3.2 Collaboration and strategic positioning
• Standard 3.3 Incorporation of and contribution to good practice
• Standard 3.4 Community and professional capacity building

While in South Australia later in March 2017, Dr Stephen Clark, AGPAL Group CEO, will be stopping by Centacare SA to personally present their accreditation certificate. In the lead up to this exciting time, we interviewed Jenny Hanlon, Centacare Catholic Services Executive Manager, Systems Improvement to find out more about this incredible achievement.

QIP: What does achieving these exceeded ratings mean to Centacare?
Jenny: The validation by external reviewers that we are indeed achieving beyond requirements is significant feedback. It gives not only us but our clients, funders and other stakeholder’s confidence in Centacare as a provider of choice for high quality services to the community. It is an acknowledgement of the efforts of all staff within Centacare and their commitment to the culture of quality, which has the client at the centre of all that we do. The fact that the exceeded ratings were spread evenly across all sections of the standards, confirms we have a good balance in our efforts to ensure we are a strong and sustainable organisation.

QIP: During the six rounds of accreditation, the organisation has clearly implemented ongoing quality improvements; can you tell us what some of those are?
Jenny: We are a very different organisation now to what we were when we first commenced the QIC Standards and Accreditation Program in 2001. In this time, every aspect of our organisation has been subject to quality improvements. Over the years we have worked to embed the culture of quality and continuous improvement across all levels of the organisation and have implemented countless quality improvements.

The fact we have an active Quality Program with a sustainable and ongoing structure, which engages and involves staff at all levels within the organisation, ensures improvements will continue to occur.

QIP: What do you value most about the accreditation process?|
Jenny: At Centacare, we view ourselves as a learning organisation and welcome feedback as an opportunity to make improvements. This feedback can come from a range of sources including clients, stakeholders, and staff or via research, evaluation, complaints and audits.

The accreditation process provides an opportunity for reflection during the self-assessment phase, and by ensuring we are open and transparent during the external review phase we are provided with valuable insights into our organisation by independent external reviewers.

Accreditation is a formal recognition and we value that the review process validates areas where we are doing well as well as identifies areas where we can improve based on good practice.

QIP: What advice or words of encouragement would you give to other community or health organisations looking to exceed in their accreditation?
Jenny: We don’t set out to exceed in our accreditation, rather we aim to ensure all aspects of our organisation are authentic and of the highest quality. This is assisted by using a systems approach including good governance and corporate systems to ensure we are a strong and sustainable organisation, systems for the delivery of high quality client centred services and systems for stakeholder and consumer engagement and sector and regional partnerships. We have a comprehensive set of documents including policies and procedures which describe the various systems and are subject to continual review.

A great set of policies and systems is worth little if staff are not engaged and committed to the quality program and are not supported to focus on the best model of operation to provide quality outcomes for clients.

My advice based on our experience with implementing a quality program for accreditation is to ensure the CEO and leadership team actively support and engage in the quality program.

It is important to clearly identify who is accountable and responsible for leading the quality program and ensure they are of a level which promotes the importance of the program and enables influence. Adequate resources must also be allocated as it is quite labour intensive to maintain a quality program. The QIC Standards provide a great framework and the implementation of a strong systems approach supports requirements. Ensuring structures and processes for reviewing is built into all aspects is necessary to ensure continuous improvement. It is critical those structures and processes engage staff to embed a culture of quality.

QIP: A particular highlight for Centacare SA was Section 3 – Sustaining quality external relationships where three of the four standards were exceeded, did you do anything in particular for this section?
Jenny: I think it is a combination of several factors and not any one thing in particular. To promote the culture of positive quality stakeholder relationships we have clear documentation of the expectations of stakeholder collaboration and engagement, CQI processes are in place for planning and review of stakeholder involvement as are structures for meaningful stakeholder participation.

A key KPI within position descriptions across all levels of staff includes the demonstration of collaborative work practices with all stakeholders. This was demonstrated with the compelling evidence provided to the review team by the service delivery staff of their collaboration and partnerships they have with other stakeholders to maximise the resources in the community, to achieve outcomes for clients and the community, and to shape service responses that address identified needs in a creative way. The review team applauded Centacare’s staff who step up and play leadership roles through managing services and programs, through participating in activities that lead to improvement, by mentoring and supporting one another, by working together effectively internally and with other partners, and through a focus on positive outcomes.

QIP: What role does accreditation play for your organisation to assist such a wide range of sectors and people in the community?
Jenny: Accreditation provides us with a mandate which ensures we continue to evolve and grow as an organisation.

To find out more about Centacare, visit www.centacare.org.au

AGPAL and QIP are once again proud and excited to sponsor the AAPM Practice Manager of the Year Awards and this year the 2017 AAPM National Practice Manager of the Year will receive a $5,000 travel voucher to spend on a well-deserved getaway!

Each 2017 AAPM State Practice Manager of the Year Award winner will receive flights, accommodation and registration for the 2017 National Conference in Perth. The recipient of each State Practice Manager of the Year Award automatically becomes a finalist for the National Practice Manager of the Year Award.

Nominations for the 2017 AAPM Practice Manager of the Year Awards are open to all AAPM Members across medical, specialist, dental or allied health practice management. Please note additional eligibility criteria applies, click here for more information.

How to nominate

Practice Managers can self-nominate or be nominated by practice owners, principals, and colleagues.

Once a Practice Manager is nominated they will invited to complete the online Application Form. If self-nominating, simply complete the Application Form without waiting to be nominated by someone else.

Start recognising the outstanding contributions made by a Practice Manager you know! CLICK HERE to commence the nominations process today as applications close Wednesday 31 May 2017.

For further details regarding the AAPM 2017 Practice Manager of the Year Awards, selection criteria and eligibility requirements visit the AAPM Website by clicking here.

In late December 2016, the Australian Commission for Quality in Health Care (the Commission) advised their plans to develop a national model clinical governance framework to be used by clinicians, managers, executives, governing bodies and state and territory departments of health as a guide to support effective corporate governance and improve the safety and quality of care. The Commission have based the clinical governance framework is based on the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards,  in particular the Clinical Governance for Health Service Organisations Standard and the Partnering with Consumers Standard.

Clinical governance ensures accountability and transparency across all disciplines of health care, supporting staff to ensure patients and the community receive high standards of quality care and service provision, and quality improvements are continuously reviewed, monitored and implemented.

Good clinical governance ensures that the community and the health service organisation can be confident that systems are in place to deliver safe and high-quality care and continuously improve services.

A high-level advisory panel has been formed to advise the Commission in developing the framework, comprising senior clinicians, health service executives, representatives from health service boards, jurisdictional representatives and other experts. The panel is chaired by Ms Wendy Harris QC, a member of the Commission’s Board.

The framework will help ensure that patients receive safe and high-quality care, and that the community is confident in the delivery of that care.

The framework will be supported by additional resources for specific target audiences including members of governing bodies such as boards, clinicians and consumers.

For further information and updates visit www.safetyandquality.gov.au.

Please note: the information published in this article has been obtained from the Commission’s 21 December 2016 e-newsletter.