Following a recent Accreditation Canada evaluation, we are pleased to announce that Scarborough Health Network (SHN) has been accredited with Exemplary Standing – the highest possible level.
“We are proud to be recognized for delivering exceptional care to patients and families in Scarborough. This extraordinary accomplishment speaks volumes about the expert and dedicated staff, medical staff, and volunteers working together across SHN, and our unwavering commitment to quality and safety,” said David Graham, President and CEO.
The accreditation process is a continuous assessment cycle led by Accreditation Canada, an independent, not-for-profit organization that sets standards for quality and safety in healthcare and accredits hospitals and other providers nationwide.
Due to the pandemic, SHN followed a phased approach to accreditation with a virtual survey on leadership and governance standards in October 2021 and a recent on-site review of clinical standards in November 2022. As a health network, we met 99.6 per cent of the over 2,000 criteria on which we were evaluated and all Required Organizational Practices.
Accreditation Canada’s 2022 Final Report awarded SHN with Exemplary Standing for going beyond the requirements of the accreditation program and demonstrating an unparalleled level of commitment to exceptional quality, safety, and innovation. The report applauds the leading care SHN delivers every day and celebrates our journey over the last five years to become one connected network, stating:
“The onsite accreditation survey has demonstrated that SHN is extremely valued by its patients, families, and volunteers, and by its broad array of health service providers and partners. At SHN leaders, staff and physician are committed, engaged, and caring and provide exceptional care and services to its communities.”
Specifically, the report captures SHN’s many successes, including our:
- Incredible resilience throughout the pandemic and our robust management of COVID-19
- Leadership in the development of the new Scarborough Ontario Health Team (SOHT)
- Well-developed patient and family advisory program
- Clinical information system (Epic) transformation
- Rigorous and appropriate safety reporting policies and follow-up mechanisms
- Focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion as an integral part of who we are at SHN
- And much more
SHN’s accreditation with Exemplary Standing builds on our recent redesignation as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario in Fall 2022. The BPSO designation reflects SHN’s implementation of 10 evidence-based Best Practice Guidelines that positively impact the health and well-being of our patients. In the last year, we have also achieved specialized accreditation for our Pharmacy and Laboratory programs at SHN.
“Our community can trust us to focus on providing the highest standards of care. We look forward to continuing to participate in ongoing assessment cycles to support best practices, informed planning, and continuous quality improvements. This rewarding process will always be integral to our journey at SHN and the world-class care we deliver right here in Scarborough,” said Glyn Boatswain, Chief Nursing and Allied Health Executive.
More about Accreditation
Every four years, almost all healthcare organizations in Canada and around the world participate in a voluntary survey called Accreditation to improve the quality and safety of their services. Accreditation is an ongoing process of evaluating and recognizing a hospital’s programs, services, policies, and procedures as meeting established standards.
As a roadmap to quality, Accreditation Canada’s Qmentum program provides evidence-informed standards, tools, resources, and guidance to healthcare organizations on their journey to excellence. Along with being an ongoing process of continuous quality improvement, Accreditation also highlights areas of excellence, as well as gaps in the programs and services that an organization offers.