Recognizing Innovation and Creativity in Canadian Health Care Delivery
A critical part of Accreditation Canada’s contribution to improving quality in health services is achieved through knowledge sharing. Accreditation Canada recognizes Leading Practices in Canadian organizations across the care continuum that are particularly innovative solutions to improve quality.
Leading Practices are noteworthy examples of high-quality leadership and service delivery. These practices are worthy of recognition as organizations strive for excellence in their specific field or contribute to health care as a whole. They may have been identified as a Leading Practice in a particular geographic region, or for a particular service delivery area or health issue. Some of these practices are ingenious in their simplicity. Often, they are implemented by organizations with limited resources, showing how innovative strategies can be achieved at a minimal cost.
Client organizations identify exemplary practices in their organization and submit them through the online client organization portal anytime during their accreditation cycle. Once submitted, a committee of experts and the Accreditation Decision Committee use the following criteria to evaluate whether the practice is, in fact, leading.
A Leading Practice must be:
1) Linked to Accreditation Canada standards
2) Innovative and creative
3) Client- or family-centred
4) Evaluated
5) Able to demonstrate intended results
6) Sustainable
7) Adaptable by other organizations