Australia's only National Critical Care and Trauma Centre (NCCTRC) in Darwin has been formally accredited by Australia's largest healthcare accreditation provider, the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS).
The NCCTRC's significant role in the region has been boosted with $67.6 million additional Federal Government funding for future developments, announced today.
The accreditation to ACHS's Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP6) demonstrates that the NCCTRC - with Australia's first fully-equipped portable field hospital - has the capability to effectively meet internationally-recognised health standards that underpin patient safety and quality issues.
"ACHS are delighted to accredit the NCCTRC and this is recognition of both their maturity as an organisation and the enormous development they have undergone to be able to deliver the only purpose-built field hospital equipped for disaster management conditions", said Dr Karen Luxford, ACHS CEO.
"Since its inception in 2002 following the Bali bombings and formal establishment in 2005, the NCCTRC has played a critical role in offering specialised trauma management to northern Australia as well as neighbouring overseas countries.
"Accreditation to the comprehensive EQuIP6 Standards reflects the alignment with current best practice. The diversity of health organisations the Standards have been adapted to is considerable, but in our 45 years of providing healthcare accreditation domestically and internationally, this is the first time they have been implemented for a Trauma Centre with its own field hospital," Dr Luxford said.
NCCTRC CEO Professor Len Notaras AM explained the Centre's role has expanded over the last decade as it has participated in and managed several emergency disasters with resulting trauma issues and sought to build a field hospital that can be transported by aircraft to disaster sites to immediately dispatch trauma care.
"Following the delivery of the field hospital and equipment, the Centre sought to attain accreditation to EQuIP6 to ensure our services are focused on accepted standards that ensure patient safety," said Professor Notaras.
"The NCCTRC plays a vital role in the Territory and the Centre's staff are excited this accreditation has been achieved and appreciate the journey required to attain it.
"The national tradition of achieving ACHS accreditation is important in signalling credibility both nationally and internationally and this certification is a very positive step in the Centre's ongoing development," he said.
