What Is Practice Accreditation?
Practice accreditation is a process where a dental clinic has undergone a rigorous process to make sure their systems are meeting a strict set of standards that commit them to continuously improve the safety and quality of the care they deliver to patients.
If a practice doesn’t have accreditation certificates and posters on display, all you need to do is ask them if they have undergone accreditation. You will find though that practices are proud of their accredited status and will make it obvious they have achieved it.
Why Is It Important?
In Australia, every dental clinic must comply with a large amount of legislative guidelines, standards and requirements. Further to this, in public dental clinics, it is mandatory to undertake a further accreditation process. Currently as it stands, there is no requirement for private dental clinics to be accredited. Usually if a private dental clinic becomes accredited, it often means they have of their own choice and expense, voluntarily committed to continuously improve safety and quality for patients. Divine Dental Care has undergone accreditation and is an accredited private dental clinic.
What Does Practice Accreditation Involve?
Dental clinics must meet the first six of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. Once the clinic has completed all the required documentation, they are assessed by an independent accreditation agency who awards the accreditation. Divine Dental Care has received practice accreditation through HDAA.
The 6 criteria that need to be met are:
- Governance for Safety and Quality in Health Service Organisations
- Partnering with Consumers
- Preventing and Controlling Healthcare Associated Infections
- Medication Safety
- Patient Identification and Procedure Matching
- Clinical Handover
If you have any questions about Divine Dental Care’s accreditation, please contact us and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.