National surveyors from Accreditation Canada spent the past week within the Prairie Mountain Health as part of the first ‘regional’ accreditation review for the health authority.

Accreditation is a continuous quality improvement process that evaluates PMH programs and services against national standards. Over 50 ‘PMH Teams’ prepared quality improvement plans, self-assessment evaluations and required organizational practices/standards to be ready for the survey.

PMH CEO Penny Gilson says staff, management, physicians and board members have been heavily involved in preparation for the extensive survey.

“Everyone at Prairie Mountain Health is involved in accreditation— from front line staff to volunteers and board members. That’s because we remain committed to continually improving our programs and services and equally committed to patient safety. We’re not just meeting accreditation standards because surveyors are coming here next week. We’re meeting them because our patients, clients and residents are here today, tomorrow and into the future,” Gilson stated.

Since the formal merger of Assiniboine, Brandon and Parkland Regional Health Authorities in June 2012, each former region held a separate accreditation review, with subsequent recommendations and action plans that remained in effect until this new survey cycle. An accreditation decision lasts for a period of four years.

“Accreditation provides our health region with the opportunity to learn what we are doing well and where we have room for improvement. I sincerely thank our accreditation teams, and all staff, management, physicians and volunteers for their involvement and dedication to this process.” 

Another benefit of being an accredited regional health authority involves the training of health care professionals—like physicians. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada requires any organization offering a residency training program for doctors be accredited by Accreditation Canada. PMH, in partnership with the University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (Max Rady College of Medicine), has doctor residency training programs in Brandon and Dauphin.

Once all the reviews during the week are completed, surveyors will submit a report to Accreditation Canada and Prairie Mountain Health regarding the region’s compliance with required organizational practices and national standards. Accreditation Canada evaluates the results of the peer review and then determines what level of accreditation award the region receives.

The accreditation process ends on Friday June 17th.