Eastern Zones of NL Health Services Achieve National Standards of Excellence
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services announced today that the Eastern Zones achieved “Accredited” standing from Accreditation Canada. From 2022-2024, Accreditation Canada surveyors visited program areas to assess compliance with national quality and safety standards in leadership, governance, and clinical programs and services.
“NL Health Services is pleased with this achievement and is committed to continuously working to ensure that we meet or exceed our accreditation standards,” said Karen Stone, KC, CEO (Interim), NL Health Services. “The accreditation process plays an important role in our daily work to provide quality and safe care to our patients, clients and long-term care residents. Congratulations and thank you to all those who were involved in this accreditation cycle.”
The Eastern Zones (formerly Eastern Health) participated in a sequential survey model with Accreditation Canada which included three on-site survey visits that took place from 2022 to 2024. During this time, surveyors visited a total of 37 acute care, long-term care, community health, and administrative sites to assess over 5,200 criteria. Many areas were assessed against Accreditation Canada requirements for quality and safety, such as Cancer Care; Critical Care Services; Emergency Department; Emergency Medical Services and Interfacility Transport; Infection Prevention and Control; Inpatient Services; Mental Health Services; Long-Term Care Services; Public Health Services; and Rehabilitation Services. A full list of the areas assessed during each survey is available on the Eastern Zones’ accreditation webpage.
The latest Accreditation Canada report states: “The organization is commended on its commitment to using accreditation to improve the quality and safety of the services it offers to its clients and its community.”
NL Health Services extends appreciation to all those who were involved in the on-site surveys.
“We would like to extend a sincere thank you to all staff, physicians, managers, volunteers, clients and family members who participated in the on-site accreditation surveys and to those who helped to contribute to the process,” said Ron Johnson, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Eastern-Urban Zone, NL Health Services. “Your commitment to quality and safety is reflected in the programs and services delivered each day to those we serve.”
“We would also like to thank the surveyors who visited health-care sites from 2022-2024 to learn more about our operations as part of the accreditation process,” added Debbie Walsh, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Eastern-Rural Zone, NL Health Services. “We were happy to welcome surveyors to sites in Bay Bulls, Bonavista, Burin, Carbonear, Clarenville, Ferryland, Holyrood, Placentia and St. John’s and area and appreciate their assessment of quality and safety standards. The accreditation process not only brings valuable feedback from Accreditation Canada but also from all those who participate, such as our staff, physicians and volunteers.”
NL Health Services is working towards a new provincial accreditation cycle beginning in 2025. For more information and to learn more about the three surveys and reports for the Eastern Zones, please visit: https://www.easternhealth.ca/prc/your-safety/accreditation-following-national-standards-of-safety/.
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