NSQHS Standards for Private Dental Practices

NSQHS Standards for Private Dental Practices

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) and QIP have worked collaboratively to develop Private Dental Practice Accreditation.

The program is responsive to the needs and expectations of the dental profession and provides a sound evidence-based approach to accreditation within the NSQHS Standards (first edition) for private dental practices.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has confirmed that the accreditation program for private dental practices will not transfer to the NSQHS Standards (second edition) in January 2019, and will continue to be assessed against the NSQHS Standards (first edition). The program focuses on six standards within the first edition applicable to dental practices and services.

QIP is approved by the Commission as an accrediting agency under the AHSSQA Scheme. QIP and ADA are dedicated to delivering an accreditation program that supports private dental practices to continually improve while reassuring patients of their commitment to safety and quality.

Download QIP's accreditation for private dental practices brochure here

About the NSQHS Standards for private dental practices

The NSQHS Standards were developed and are governed by the Commission as part of the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme. The NSQHS Standards and AHSSQA Scheme are designed to deliver a consistent level of safe and high-quality care across health services in Australia.

The AHSSQA Scheme aims to provide national coordination of accreditation processes across Australian health service organisations. To achieve accreditation as part of the AHSSQA Scheme, health services are independently assessed against the NSQHS Standards.

For some organisations, like private dental practices, accreditation is a voluntary process, accreditation against the NSQHS Standards is compulsory for all Australian hospitals, day procedure services and the majority of public dental services, as well as New South Wales licenced cosmetic medical and surgical facilities.

To support private dental practices implement the relevant NSQHS Standards, improve safety and quality of care, and achieve accreditation the Commission’s NSQHS Standards Guide for Dental Practices and Services is a helpful resource available for electronic download.

QIP is approved by the Commission as an accrediting agency under the AHSSQA Scheme.

The NSQHS Standards (first edition) overview

The NSQHS Standards were developed by the Commission to drive the implementation of safety and quality systems, and improvements to the quality of healthcare in Australia. The NSQHS Standards provide a mechanism to enable the systematic review of complex systems and a way of tracking changes in the safety and quality of patient care.

The NSQHS Standards provide a nationally consistent statement about the level of care consumers can expect from health service organisations across Australia.

The NSQHS Standards aim to:

  • Protect the public from harm
  • Improve the quality of health service provision
  • Provide a quality assurance mechanism that tests whether relevant systems are in place
  • Ensure that minimum standards of safety and quality are met, and
  • Provide a quality improvement mechanism that allows health services to realise aspirational or developmental goals.

As part of Private Dental Practice Accreditation, assessment is undertaken against six of the ten NSQHS Standards relevant to dental practices.

Contact QIP about dental accreditation

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