Healthdirect Australia achieves ACHS accreditation

Healthdirect Australia today announced its success in achieving accreditation from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS). Internationally recognised, ACHS accreditation acknowledges the reliability, safety and quality of Healthdirect Australia's digital health and related services, used by millions of Australians each year.

CEO of Healthdirect Australia, Colin Seery, said he is extremely proud that the organisation has achieved the full four-year ACHS Equip5 Corporate Standards Accreditation, during the 10^th year of operation for the organisation.

“To achieve accreditation, independent surveyors examined the extensive systems, policies and procedures in place, and measured our capacity for quality and performance improvement.

“We are thrilled the surveyors made no recommendations for improvement in their report and were impressed by our comprehensive clinical governance framework, underpinning all of the services we manage on behalf of our government shareholders.”

Formed in 2006 by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), Healthdirect Australia has evolved from procuring and managing a single telephone triage service to being an industry leader in providing quality, accessible, remotely delivered health and related services.

“Underpinning the evolution into digital services is our commitment to safe clinical practices, secure data systems and rigorous policies ensuring all Australians, no matter where they live, have access to trusted, credible and accurate health information and advice,” Mr Seery said.

“In achieving ACHS accreditation, people using the many services we provide can rest assured in the validity and credibility of the health information they receive and its Australian source.

“What’s more, ACHS Accreditation is not a simple ‘tick the box’ exercise. It’s about continually improving as an organisation, ensuring health consumers are at front of mind when developing new digital and multi-channel services,” Mr Seery added.

The ACHS is an industry-recognised independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the quality of health care in Australia, with a specific focus on safety, quality and performance.

Equip5 Corporate Health Services Accreditation is specifically designed and tailored for health services that do not provide direct patient care, but facilitate and support the delivery of safe, high quality health services.

Healthdirect Australia manages a number of national services on behalf of the Australian, State and Territory governments including healthdirect, after hours GP helpline, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, Carer Gateway, My Aged Care and the National Health Services Directory.