Developing accreditation for community based surgery: the Irish experience
ISSN: 1751-1879
Article publication date: 15 November 2017
Issue publication date: 7 February 2018
Abstract
Purpose
Carrying out minor surgery procedures in the primary care setting is popular with patients, cost effective and delivers at least as good outcomes as those performed in the hospital setting. This paper aims to describe the central role of clinical leadership in developing an accreditation system for general practitioners (GPs) undertaking community-based surgery in the Irish national setting where no mandatory accreditation process currently exists.
Design/methodology/approach
In all, 24 GPs were recruited to the GP network. Ten pilot standards were developed addressing GPs’ experience and training, clinical activity and practice supporting infrastructure and tested, using information and document review, prospective collection of clinical data and a practice inspection visit. Two additional components were incorporated into the project (patient satisfaction survey and self-audit). A multi-modal evaluation was undertaken. A majority of GPs was included at all stages of the project, in line with the principles of action learning. The steering group had a majority of GPs with relevant expertise and representation of all other actors in the minor surgery arena. The GP research network contributed to each stage of the project. The project lead was a GP with minor surgery experience. Quantitative data collected were analysed using Predictive Analytic SoftWare. Krueger’s framework analysis approach was used to analyse the qualitative data.
Findings
A total of 9 GPs achieved all standards at initial review, 14 successfully completed corrective actions and 1 GP did not achieve the required standard. Standards were then amended to reflect findings and a supporting framework was developed.
Originality/value
The flexibility of the action-learning approach and the clinical leadership design allowed for the development of robust quality standards in a short timeframe.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge and thank the Primary Care Division of the HSE for providing funding for the project and members of the PCSA for their guidance. This project would not have been possible without the unlimited dedication of the steering committee and the contributions of the participating GPs and their staff, whose contributions went well beyond the activities initially agreed. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Citation
Ní Riain, A., Collins, C. and O’Sullivan, T. (2018), "Developing accreditation for community based surgery: the Irish experience", Leadership in Health Services, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 33-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHS-01-2017-0001
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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