FNHA Honours BC First Nations Champions in Accreditation and Quality Improvement!
In partnership with Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey VII, the FNHA Community Accreditation and Quality Improvement (CAQI) Program hosted its inaugural First Nations Quality Improvement and Safety (QIS) Network Forum.
The QIS Network offers BC First Nations health and treatment organizations a platform to connect and share leadership and capacity building on their journeys to accreditation. Accreditation is an effective quality-improvement process and tool that provides a structure to continuously examine, strengthen and maintain high quality programming with a focus on staff, client, and community safety. It also provides First Nations communities with opportunities for increased organizational development, community development and capacity building at a service and health systems level. Currently the QIS Network is comprised of 24 First Nation health centres and 10 First Nation treatment centres, representing each of the 5 regions; all 10 of these treatment centres and 22 of the 24 health centres are fully accredited.
Accreditation Leads working on QI processes
The theme for this year’s Forum was “Gathering Wisdom and Leadership in Quality Improvement.” Our learning partners from Health Care Solutions and the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council provided two full days of comprehensive quality improvement (QI) thinking, doing and being. Training sessions on day one and two allowed participants to bring forward innovative ideas, learn new skills, share best practices and exchange leading-edge resources. We gathered wisdom on topics, such as understanding QI dimensions, building a systems approach to QI culture, applying small tests of change and implementing measurements for improvement.
QI Champions for First Nation Health Services
On day three, participants were able to reflect and integrate their learning by creating a Team Totem for Quality Improvement. They also participated in a meet and greet with FNHA colleagues who offer services and resources in related areas of their work. Participants described the sessions as “informative, fun, interactive, relevant, collaborative and inspiring.”
A recognition ceremony was also held as an opportunity for FNHA to honour and celebrate our communities and their commitment to upholding standards of service excellence. Lydia Hwitsum, Chair of the FNHA Board of Directors, presented each community with a FNHA plaque of recognition, acknowledging their roles as leaders and mentors for other First Nations communities.
CAQI offers various resources on Quality Improvement
The FNHA and QIS Network continue to provide support and education to First Nation communities that are currently participating in quality initiatives or are interested in learning more about accreditation. Together, they aim to recognize and promote First Nation champions in BC who are working towards and already fulfilling FNHA’s directives of:
• Community-Driven, Nation-Based;• Improve Services;• Foster Meaningful Collaboration and Partnership; and• Function at a High Operational Standard.
As FNHA works towards attaining its own accreditation award, we join this shared path towards improved health services, meaningful change and greater wellness for our BC First Nations communities. FNHA welcomes new colleagues and communities to engage in these shared efforts and achievements. Our success flourishes with the individual efforts and dedication of our champions of quality as well as with our collective vision and strengths.
What is the CAQI Program?
The FNHA Community Accreditation and Quality Improvement (CAQI) Program, supports First Nation health and treatment services with their accreditation and quality improvement activities. The CAQI Program is a community based and community led program that provides funding, resources, learning opportunities and membership with the First Nations Quality Improvement and Safety (QIS) Network
What is accreditation and quality improvement?
Accreditation is an on-going quality improvement process with a focus on staff and community client safety. It is a systematic and team approach whereby health organizations celebrate what is working, identify what is not working and implement new ways to achieve service excellence. Accreditation provides a roadmap to continuously examine processes, strengthen practices and evolve services towards better health and wellness outcomes. It provides First Nations communities with opportunities for increased organizational development, community development and capacity building at a service and health systems level.
What can accreditation and quality improvement activities look like?
• Reviewing client intake forms to reduce duplicate questions and processes
• Identifying and creating needed policies and procedures
• Implementing hand hygiene protocols to reduce transmission of infections
• Integrating leadership community planning with health planning
• Learning new ways that staff and programs can work better together
• Completing a site inspection following occupational health and safety standards
• Training staff on violence prevention in the work place
• Ensuring that medical equipment and supplies are routinely checked and stored
• Identifying emerging service needs with community/client feedback
How does CAQI Program support the work of FNHA?
The FNHA CAQI program and QIS Network members continue to provide support and education to First Nation communities that are currently participating in quality initiatives or are interested in learning more about accreditation. Together, they aim to recognize and promote First Nation champions in BC who are working towards and already fulfilling FNHA’s directives of:
As FNHA works towards attaining its own accreditation award, we join this shared path towards improved health services, meaningful change and greater wellness for our BC First Nations communities. FNHA welcomes new colleagues and communities to engage in these shared efforts and achievements. Our success flourishes with the individual efforts and dedication of our champions of quality as well as with our collective vision and strengths.
What is the First Nations Quality Improvement and Safety (QIS) Network?
The QIS Network offers BC First Nations health and treatment organizations a platform to connect and share leadership and capacity building on their journeys to accreditation. Currently the QIS Network is comprised of 24 First Nation health centres and 10 First Nation treatment centres, representing each of the 5 regions; all 10 treatment centres and 22 of the 24 health centres are fully accredited.
Who do I contact for more information?
For more information, or to request a presentation or to pursue a program partnership opportunity, please contact Parm Poonia – FNHA CAQI Program Lead at parm.poonia@fnha.ca or 604.693.6748.