Accreditation and Quality Improvement
The Victorian Board of the Medical Board of Australia has formally delegated the function of intern accreditation to the PMCV Accreditation Subcommittee. In addition the Department of Health has authorised the PMCV to survey postgraduate year two posts (PGY2).
Accreditation of prevocational medical training is a quality assurance process that establishes and monitors standards for prevocational medical training programs and positions.
PMCV’s review processes have been designed to obtain information about a facility’s performance in the provision of prevocational intern/PGY2 (HMO) medical training against explicit standards and criteria to achieve the following objectives:
- That the HMOs achieve a high standard of general clinical education and training; and
- That the best possible environment exists for the organisation, supervision and education and training of HMOs.
The Accreditation Subcommittee bases its assessment of intern and PGY2 posts on the following seven functions:
- Structure and culture in relation to HMO support and the delivery of safe patient care
- Orientation
- Education and Training Program
- Supervision
- Feedback and Assessement
- Program Evaluation
- Facilities and Amenities
Accreditation is a supportive quality assurance process. Duration of accreditation decisions arise from the survey process and survey recommendations are designed to assist a health service to improve the education and training of junior doctors.
All health services and general practices that employ interns and/or PGY2 junior doctors must be accredited by PMCV prior to the junior doctors commencing.
The assessement and accreditation of prevocational medical training (PGY1 and PGY2) positions at health services and general practices are normally completed on a 3 year cycle.
Health service/general practices may appeal against the accreditation status awarded by PMCV following a survey visit.