Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Presentation to start local discussions
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
Anaesthesia Clinical Services
Accreditation
Peer review for quality improvement
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Presentation to start local discussions
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
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
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Presentation to start local discussions
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Presentation to start local discussions
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
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
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Presentation to start local discussions
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
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
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Benefits of Peer-Review For Quality Improvement
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
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
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Benefits of Peer-Review For Quality Improvement
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
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
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Presentation to start local discussions
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
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
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Presentation to start local discussions
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
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
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Presentation to start local discussions
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
Quality Circle of Good Practice
‘CLEAR’
GUIDELINES
G.P.A.S.
‘EXPERT’
EXTERNAL
ACCREDITATION
A.C.S.A
ANAESTHESIA
DEPARTMENT
QUALITY
‘GUIDED’ SELF
AUDIT
A.R.B.
‘IMPROVED’
PRACTICE
Outcome
Measures
Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA)
Guidance B – Presentation to start local discussions
Guidance B l Version 2 l November 2014
More information
Visit our webpage: www.rcoa.ac.uk/acsa
Email us : ACSA@rcoa.ac.uk
Call us: 020 7092 1697