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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) today (March 15) announced that the hospital has been awarded full accreditation status for four years by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).
The ACHS conducted the Organisation Wide Survey (OWS) at QMH from October 25 to 29, 2010. The hospital was granted four-year full accreditation with 1 OA (Outstanding Achievement) and 10 EAs (Extensive Achievement) out of the 45 criteria under Clinical, Support and Corporate functions, namely:
Outstanding Achievement:
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1. The incidence and impact of pressure ulcers are minimised through a pressure ulcer prevention and management strategy.
Extensive Achievements:
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Clinical Function:
1. Systems exist to ensure that the care of dying and deceased consumers / patients is managed with dignity and comfort;
2. Medications are managed to ensure safe and effective practice;
3. The incidence of falls and fall injuries is minimised through a falls management programme;
Support Function:
4. Healthcare incidents, complaints and feedback are managed to ensure improvements to the systems of care;
5. The learning and development system ensures the skill and competence of staff and volunteers;
6. Better health and wellbeing for consumers / patients, staff and the broader community are promoted by the organisation;
7. The organisation's research programme promotes the development of knowledge and its application in the healthcare setting, protects consumers / patients and manages organisational risks associated with research.
Corporate Function:
8. Safety management systems ensure safety and wellbeing for consumers / patients, staff, visitors and contractors;
9. Waste and environmental management supports safe practice and a safe environment; and
10. Security management supports safe practice and a safe environment.
A certificate presentation ceremony was held at QMH today. The Chief Executive of the ACHS Board of Directors, Mr Brian Johnston, and the Chairman, Professor Peter Woodruff, attended the ceremony to present the accreditation certificate to QMH.
The Hospital Chief Executive of QMH, Dr Luk Che-chung, expressed his whole-hearted gratitude to all 5,000 staff members for their support and contribution.
"The attainment of Outstanding Achievement in 'Pressure Ulcer Management' is especially encouraging as this can only be done through multi-disciplinary collaboration on this fundamental and yet critically important standard of care. We made the improvements not just for ensuring full compliance with the standards required by the ACHS, but for the ultimate goal of bringing quality care to our patients.
"I am most touched by the family spirit and 'we can' attitude demonstrated on all fronts - medical, nursing, allied health, administrative and supporting staff, Hospital Authority (HA) Head Office and Hong Kong University's colleagues alike. I would like to thank colleagues of the previous four participating hospitals for the most invaluable sharing and guidance in facilitating our preparation. Looking ahead, the recommendations made by ACHS surveyors will be an important guide in our quest for quality and excellence," said Dr Luk.
A total of five public hospitals under the HA have participated in the Pilot Scheme of Hospital Accreditation, which was launched in 2009. Besides QMH, Caritas Medical Centre, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Tuen Mun Hospital have also been awarded accreditation.
Ends/Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:15
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