To develop our knowledge in this area the ACCREDIT collaboration (Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork) has developed a research plan, known as the ACCREDIT-SCI (Standards of Consumer Involvement) study protocol.
The Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork (ACCREDIT) was funded across 2011 15 to investigate health service accreditation in Australia [ 12].
The ACCREDIT CBA (Acute) study is the 6th of 12 studies under the ACCREDIT (Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork) research collaboration, 28 48 49 funded by the Australian Research Council through its industry Linkage Program.
The project is one component of the ACCREDIT (Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork) research collaboration.
The two studies presented in the Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork-Standards of Consumer Involvement study protocol will use multimethods to examine consumer involvement in accreditation programmes, and triangulate findings.
The study forms one part of the ACCREDIT (Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork) Project, led by researchers at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, University of New South Wales [ 32].
The Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork Cost Benefit Analysis (ACCREDIT-CBA (Acute)) study is designed to determine and make explicit the costs and benefits of Australian acute care accreditation and to determine the effectiveness of acute care accreditation in improving patient safety and quality of care.
The Accreditation Collaborative for the Conduct of Research, Evaluation and Designated Investigations through Teamwork-Current Accreditation Processes (ACCREDIT-CAP) project is designed to address key gaps in the literature by evaluating the current processes of three accreditation programmes used across Australian acute, primary and aged care services.
In engineering, collaborative skills are mandated by Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)'s required program outcomes, "to function on multidisciplinary teams" and "an ability to communicate effectively"; further research conducted with practicing engineers has validated the need for these skills (Jonassen et al. 2006).
Four factors were identified as critical enablers of effective implementation: the accreditation program is collaborative, valid and uses relevant standards; accreditation is favourably received by health professionals; healthcare organisations are capable of embracing accreditation; and accreditation is appropriately aligned with other regulatory initiatives and supported by relevant incentives.
The project involves a collaborative partnership between major Australian healthcare accreditation agencies, quality improvement bodies and researchers.
