Abstract

External, third-party evaluations are undertaken across every industry, including healthcare, to assess performance against an established set of standards. The formality, rigour, timing and outcomes associated with these evaluations vary, and models throughout the world are evolving to meet changing needs. This is aligned with the historic shift from periodic pre-determined accreditations to healthcare organizations being "accreditation ready" every day. Accreditation Canada's continuous quality improvement model empowers and enables organizations to foster a culture and practice of continuous quality improvement.