ACCREDIATION/QUALITY ASSURANCE/RISK MANAGEMENT

In September 2006 Three Corners Health Services Society started a journey of quality improvement by engaging in the accreditation process through Accreditation Canada (formerly Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA).  The accreditation process is a method of continuous learning and improvement, which occurs in 3-year cycles.

The first phase involves the self-assessment where staff review everyday activities and services using national standards of excellence.  The staff met as a group on a regular basis to assess the rate of quality of our services next to the standards required for all organizations whether they are large health authorities or small First Nations organizations.   These standards are in the areas of Leadership and Partnerships, Human Resources, Environment, and Information Management.  In addition, we are using the standards of First Nations and Inuit Community Health Services.
 
Our initial survey occurred in March o f2009.  At that time we hosted a visit from two Aboriginal surveyors.  They reviewed our self-assessment, met with focus groups of community members, staff and community partners, and reviewed the personnel and client documentation.  The surveyors then prepared a report and recommended an accreditation decision. In May of 2009 the Society was granted Accreditation with Reports. The reports are used to make on-going improvements to carry out quality assurance and risk management until we begin the cycle again.

Our next survey will be conducted in 2012.

The staff set the following objectives when beginning the accreditation process:

1. To improve communication and collaboration across teams and programs
2. To identify strengths and areas for improvements
3. To identify and decrease gaps and/or barriers in services
4. To increase the involvement of community members and community partners in our activities
5. To improve communication with our communities

Accreditation stretches the capacity of an organization in both staff and financial resources.  The team environment required to carry out the accreditation process promotes team building, enhances the use of indicators and increase understanding of quality services and client safety.

MUSTIMUHW - ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD

In April of 2006, we were able to fully implement the Mustimuhw electronic health record.  Full implementation means that the Community health Nurses utilize Mustimuhw to do all charting in each of the communities.  The database is able to track immunizations, nurses charting notes (eliminating hard copy files), and home care activities.  The nurses are able to input data right in the community, as the data is replicated back to the main office nightly.

The system is able to generate reporting for Medical Transportation, e-SDRT services, Immunization Coverage, and CPNP.  As well as reporting, the system is also able to generate homecare scheduling for the homecare workers and clients, and has the capability of separating the clients by community.  We also have the ability to generate statistics based on database fields for statistical purposes.

In order to utilize the system to its fullest capacity and keep up-to-date with Health Canada reporting requirements and community needs, we are continually having to install updates and re-evaluate needs, as well as the capabilities of the system.  For purposes of gathering data for the new framework until all programs are utilizing Mustimuhw, hardcopies will be used as well.

CONNECTIVITY/VIDEOCONFERENCING

Our Health Stations located in Soda Creek, and Sugar Cane operate on a satellite connection, as ADSL has not been installed to date.  Our Soda Creek health station has a vidoconferencing unit located in their boardroom.  Both our main office located in Williams Lake and our health station located in Dog Creek has ADSL.  In July 2007, Dog Creek Health Station had the last mile installed at their health station, and received a videoconferencing unit from eHealth Solutions Unit.

We look forward to moving ahead in telehealth and the opportunity to support any upcoming initiatives.  We would like to explore new ways of working with the Province, Interior Health Authority and Health Canada, using technology as one of many tools to close the gap in First Nations Health.

Success of the telehealth planning initiative is dependent on the ability of Three Corners Health Services Society to continue to secure funding for the eHealth Program.  This position has been the core component of our eHealth program and is essential for the current projects to continue.  It is our hope that we can continue to move forward through support of this position from FNIH.