Making care safer : from hospital to home care : a collaborative report

Summary: A key part of the Accreditation Canada on-site survey is determining whether organizations meet the Required Organizational Practices (ROPs). First introduced into the accreditation program in 2005, ROPs are evidence-based practices that mitigate risk and contribute to improving the quality and safety of health services. As with the Accreditation Canada standards, ROPs are developed and integrated into the program with input from health care experts including practitioners, researchers, policy makers, ministries of health personnel, academics, and health service providers at the provincial, territorial, and national levels. Existing initiatives and priorities in each jurisdiction are also important considerations in the development process. Each ROP is supported by research, including its impact on patient outcomes and cost. The three ROPs featured in this report: VTE Prophylaxis, Safe Surgery Checklist, and Home Safety Risk Assessment were introduced into the Accreditation Canada program in January 2010. Developed in close collaboration with CPSI, their assessment during Accreditation Canada on-site surveys began in 2011. Results from the assessment of these ROPs in health care organizations across Canada provide insight into how our health system is performing and showcase opportunities for improvement to drive future practice change.