Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Témiscaming-et-de-Kipawa

Accreditation

Rationale for Accreditation

Accreditation is a process directed at assessing and improving the quality of services of health institutions.

As described in the MSSS document entitled “Lignes directrices sur l'agrément des services offerts par les établissements de santé et de services sociaux” (accreditation guidelines for the accreditation of services offered by health and social services institutions), accreditation is recognition, by a competent external authority, that the institution is committed to improving the quality of services on an ongoing basis. Such third-party recognition awards the accredited institution with the value and public awareness it needs to develop or maintain a sense of trust with the general public, with users, and with government authorities.  Accreditation proves that the institution is committed to continually improving the quality and safe provision of services.

Our CSSS has been accredited with Accreditation Canada (formerly known as the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation) since 1997 for the excellence and quality of the services offered and the effective use of resources, therefore well before accreditation became compulsory in Quebec. Accreditation Canada, for its part, is an independent non-profit organization which has been in existence since 1952.

The Accreditation Process

Eleven quality assessment teams representing our institution are involved in the self-assessment process.

All services and programs, including the assisted-living facility, are involved in this self-assessment process so as to determine the strengths and possibility of improvement for said services, programs, and assisted-living facility.

The teams and facilities of the institution were inspected by an Accreditation Canada team in September 2009. It assessed all our activities and validated the information submitted by each of our teams.

The institution received its accreditation following such inspection, as well as a report containing recommendations.  The ensuing action plan is part of a learning and improvement curve that is spread out over a period of three years, i.e. until September 2012, the date for renewal of accreditation.

Each of the 11 quality assessment teams will be responsible for monitoring the recommendations made by Accreditation Canada. These teams must submit a report for such monitoring on the next inspection visit scheduled in 2012.

The CSSSTK accreditation process falls under the responsibility of the Program, Nursing Care, and Quality Control Department. For further information, please contact:

• The Program, Nursing Care, and Quality Control Department, OR
• The Senior Consultant on Risk and Service Quality Management