Best practice using Excellence in Practice Accreditation Scheme.

Abstract

This article describes how the University of Teesside School of Health and Social Care practice development team, in partnership with local professional colleagues and organizations, have addressed the issue of providing continuous quality evidence-based practice within the context of clinical governance. The newly devised Excellence in Practice Accreditation Scheme (EPAS) measures the standard of practice for a given health and social care setting by providing objective data indicating the level of clinical excellence obtained for the team or organization. The EPAS differs from other organizational accreditation schemes by facilitating excellence based upon a comprehensive set of measurable core standards: working in organizations, collaborative working, user-focused care, continuous quality improvements, performance management, and measuring efficiency and effectiveness. The standards are derived from a professional peer review of best practices. The uniqueness of EPAS is in consolidating the various organizational standards to elicit the core themes related to best practice where individuals, teams and organizations can be benchmarked and accredited for a level of excellence.