RACGP Standards for health services in Australian prisons
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has developed and owns the Standards for health services in Australian prisons (the RACGP Standards for prisons). Currently in its second edition, the RACGP Standards for prisons are designed to support general practitioners working within these health services to achieve better health outcomes for people incarcerated in Australian prisons or detained in custody.
The RACGP has stated that those ‘providing healthcare in prisons face the usual challenges of general practice, in addition to a range of complex issues such as the need to balance privacy and confidentiality with safety and security and patients at risk of self-destructive behaviour.’ The RACGP Standards for prisons assist with navigating the complex problems with the health and wellbeing of those patients within the Australian prison system.
QIP is approved by the RACGP to provide accreditation against the RACGP Standards for prisons and is committed to supporting the delivery of high quality and safe healthcare within Australian prison health services.
Why are the RACGP Standards for prisons necessary?
The delivery of high-quality primary healthcare is challenging in correctional facilities comparatively to other healthcare services such as general practices or specialised health services.
The RACGP state that ‘people incarcerated in Australian prisons or detained in custody often face complex problems with their health and wellbeing. These problems can stem from a myriad of sources including the individual’s cultural, religious and socio-political background, as well as their understanding of health and illness and any previous experience of the prison system.’
The RACGP Standards for prisons are designed to support those working in these healthcare settings to achieve better health outcomes for people incarcerated in Australian prisons or detained in custody. The RACGP acknowledge ‘that health services in Australian prisons are run by the relevant state or territory Department of Health or Department of Justice (Victoria only)… and that the Standard guidelines for corrections in Australia are endorsed by all state and territory governments, provide a basic framework for the delivery of health services to people incarcerated in Australian prisons.’
Overview of the RACGP Standards for prisons
The RACGP Standards for health services in Australian prisons 2nd edition have three modules:
- Core
- Quality improvement
- Prison health services
The modules are broken down into the following standards:
- Core Standard 1: Communication and patient participation
- Core Standard 2: Rights and needs of patients
- Core Standard 3: Health service governance and management
- Core Standard 4: Health promotion and preventive activities
- Core Standard 5: Clinical management of health issues
- Core Standard 6: Information Management
- Core Standard 7: Content of patient health records
- Core Standard 8: Education and training on non-clinical staff
- QI Standard 1: Quality Improvement
- QI Standard 2: Clinical indicators
- QI Standard 3: Clinical risk management
- PHS Standard 1: Access to care
- PHS Standard 2: Comprehensive care
- PHS Standard 3: Qualifications of our clinical team
- PHS Standard 4: Reducing the risk of infection
- PHS Standard 5: Health service facilities
- PHS Standard 6: Vaccine potency
How QIP supports organisations
Tailored support
QIP has trained QIP Client Liaison Teams on hand to answer any questions clients may have about their accreditation, certification or verification. With expert knowledge of each of the standards or frameworks, evidence requirements and the self-assessment process, QIP’s Client Liaison Teams provide clients with on-going advice throughout their cycle.
QIP’s accreditation hub
The QIP accreditation hub is an online platform tailored to each client’s individual accreditation timelines and framework requirements. It includes a personalised action plan, a resource library and a number of other features to support clients throughout their accreditation journey.
Access to AccreditationPro
QIP’s online self-assessment software, known as AccreditationPro, streamlines accreditation preparation by helping clients determine their organisation’s compliance with an applicable set of Standards.
Access to online resources and education
QIP’s online Education and Resource Library, provides clients with access to a range of practical, informative and customisable resources to support organisations in complying with the relevant industry Standards.
Regular news and e-newsletters
Stay up-to-date with industry and organisational news, helpful tips and your standards information with QIP communications including periodical e-newsletters advising of any changes to processes, systems, standards or evidence requirements are released.
Highly trained assessment teams
QIP’s Assessors are highly trained and qualified peer assessors who work across the Australian health, community and human services sectors. Our team will share their knowledge and support organisations through the accreditation assessment.
Celebrating the achievement of accreditation
Achieving QIP accreditation takes dedication, team work and a commitment to continuous quality improvement. When organisations achieve their accredited, certificated or verified status, they are provided with their own 'Promotional Toolkit' filled with a number of materials to celebrate and promote this achievement.
The QIP Accredited Symbol is one way consumers and local community can be reassured that an organisation has been recognised for their commitment to delivering a safe and quality-focused service.
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