In 2003 the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care commissioned a Standards Setting and Accreditation Literature Review and Report. This report identified the main systems and approaches for standard setting and external review in the Australian Health System.

GPDV achieved accreditation with the national Quality Improvement Council (QIC) in October 2003. 

The report "Divisions of General Practice: Future Directions - Government Response to the Report of the review of the role of Divisions of General Practice", (April 2004) flagged the government's intention to

"reward high performers and promote best practice .....and to lift the standards of divisions generally" (p. 28)

The Department of Health & Ageing has now introduced a National Quality and Performance System for the Divisions of General Practice Network.

Within this system the following accreditation models have been recognised for Divisions.

• Quality Improvement Council (QIC) Core Module of Standards
• The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) EQuiP Corporate Standards * 
• International Organization for Standardizations ISO 9001:2000 Standards.

* N.B: ACHS released a new standards set "Quality for the Divisions Network" in early 2005.  These standards are not yet recognised by DoHA for Divisions accreditation. 

GPDV actively supports and promotes the use of continuous quality improvement (CQI) principles and practices by divisions.  A range of support is available within our Star Divisions Program including a quarterly CQI & Accreditation Network.  Click here to view 2005 network events. 

An extensive range of resources for divisions has been developed and used within Network meetings.  Click here to access any of these resources. 

For further information about CQI network activities and individual support for divisions interested in CQI practices and in accreditation please contact Susan Webster or Helen Threlfall, Divisions' Consultants: s.webster@gpdv.com.au. or h.threlfall@gpdv.com.au

GPDV CQI & Accreditation Network