Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre Achieves Accreditation with Commendation For its Commitment to Quality Health Services

Cowichan Tribes
News Release

For Immediate Release
July 23, 2012

Duncan, B.C. – Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre of the Cowichan Tribes was recently awarded Accreditation with Commendation after a final site visit by Accreditation Canada site surveyors June 25-27, 2012. The surveyors spent time observing and talking with employees, leadership, community members and community partners to assess Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre’s programs and services using standards specific to the care that is delivered at the health centre. A formal report and letter from Accreditation Canada confirming the award was received by the health centre on July 12, 2012.The Accreditation Canada standards include all aspects of health care, from patient safety and ethics, to staff training and partnering with the community. Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre staff have been working for three years to improve the quality and safety of services in order to meet Accreditation Canada Standards and provide the best possible care and service to their community members.

“Accreditation is one of the most effective ways for health and social service organizations to improve the quality of their services and to demonstrate that they meet or exceed national standards of excellence” states Pamela Naymark, Accreditation Specialist with Accreditation Canada. Health provider organizations are surveyed once every three years. Following the survey, they receive one of four accreditation decisions: Not Accredited, Accredited, Accredited with Commendation, or Accredited with Exemplary Standing. Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre was awarded Accreditation with Commendation, the second highest rating in the Accreditation Canada system, due in large part to the professional, competent and caring staff at the health centre. “Accreditation with Commendation is a rare and impressive status to have achieved directly following an on-site survey,” acknowledged Naymark.

“We would like to express our appreciation to the community members, Cowichan Tribes staff, Health Advisory Committee members and Chief and Council for supporting us to reach our goal of becoming an accredited health centre and meeting with the surveyors to share their perspectives” said Judith Gohn, Executive Health Director. “We raise our hands to the community partners who met with the surveyors and described Cowichan Tribes and the Health Centre as a leader in the Cowichan Valley in the areas of community building and integrated health care delivery.”

Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre began operation in 1992 with less than 20 employees and now employs over 80 staff. It manages public health and communicable disease control for Cowichan Tribes, and provides health education programs for more than 7,000 Aboriginal people in the region, of which 4,500 are Cowichan Tribes members. Accreditation Canada provides national and international health care organizations with an external peer review process to assess and improve the services they provide to their patients and clients based on standards of excellence. Accreditation Canada’s programs and guidance have helped organizations promote quality health care for over 50 years and have been accrediting Aboriginal health services since 1999.

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For more information please contact:

Ms. Judith Gohn
Health Director, Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre
Tel: (250) 746-6184
Email: [email protected]

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