Accreditation Process

The PMCV accreditation process has been designed to obtain information about health service performance of HMO training against explicit standards and criteria, to achieve the following objectives:

1. That the HMOs achieve a high standard of general clinical education and training; and
2. That the best possible environment exists for the organisation, supervision and education and training of HMOs.

The accreditation process assesses the health service's performance in relation to HMO training against the following seven standards:

1. The health service demonstrates a commitment to the development of HMOs;
2. HMOs participate in formal orientation programs which are designed and evaluated to ensure sound learning occurs;
3. HMOs are provided with appropriate formal education opportunities;
4. HMOs are supervised at a level appropriate to their experience and responsibilities;
5. HMOs receive continuous and constructive feedback on their performance;
6. The health service formally evaluates the HMO training program in a continuous improvement framework; and
7. The health service provides a suitable physical environment and amenities that support the HMOs.

The standards are assessed at both the health service level and unit/rotation level.

The Assessment Process

The assessment process for accreditation has four major evaluative steps:

1. Self-assessment by the health service against the Council’s standards and criteria, which are designed to identify outstanding issues and provide a framework for improving training programs;
2. Review of the health service’s assessment by a survey team which examines evidence as documented by the health service and uses the clearly defined and established standards set out by Council. This also involves meetings, discussion with the HMOs, other clinicians, administrators, and any others involved in education and training of HMOs;
3. Analysis of HMO feedback by the survey team; and
4. Consideration of the self-assessment and survey team report at a meeting of the Accreditation subcommittee.