Mobilizing toward regional accreditation

In January 1999, the Eastern Regional Health Board began planning for a Regional Accreditation scheduled in November 1999. This would be the first time that our two programs (Addiction Services and Public Health), and two of the nine acute care facilities in our Region would be accredited. This article describes a regional accreditation planning process. It suggests the resources required for such a project, suggests a workable time line, and indicates a communication strategy. Mobilizing over 1000 staff, physicians, and the communities toward Regional accreditation was a challenge for the Steering Team. Defining a plan of action with defined time lines proved helpful; defining team chairs who were flexible and positive was vital, and engaging the communities in our review was rewarding. Informing the public was completed using strategies borrowed from our Newfoundland counterparts (an accreditation mural and a regular newsletter), and our own creative strategies such as "Sharing Day" and engaging community health board involvement on accreditation teams. The project development was initiated by a steering committee, and spanned 21 teams. Both a communication and education plan were important in keeping the board, staff, physicians and residents of the Region informed.