Foundation Standards in General Practice - The fundamentals.

Below is a brief summary of what is involved when thinking about the Foundation Standards. We will discuss each segment to help structure an understanding and a plan of how Foundation Standards can be processed methodically within General Practice.

We will be looking at all the below over time:

• What are Foundation Standards?

• What role do I play?

• What are indicators?

• What is a good plan of attack?

  1. Time management

  2. Team effort

  3. Use the resources supplied

  4. Tools

  5. Smartsheet

  6. Structure

• Liaise with your avenue of support (PHO, Assessor)

• What do Foundation Standards achieve

  1. Quality

  2. Processes

  3. Policies

  4. Consistency

  5. Audits

  6. Safety

  7. Better outcomes

General Practice (Primary Care) must comply to standards. These standards vary and may include topics such as:

• Clinical Guidelines

• Patient Centred Care

• Continuity of Care

• Privacy and Confidentiality

• Record Keeping

• Quality Improvement

• Safety and Infection Control

• Professional Development

To name a few.

So the first point is understanding what the Foundation Standards (FS) are:

• The FS are a set of standards that must be met by General Practice to receive funding and meet the PHO (Primary Health Organisation) service agreement.

However the FS are more than this. Any good practice would have many of the standards in place, as this would promote good working practice in the first instance. The FS is a framework which encompasses quality.

1. Framework = Foundation and plan

2. Structure = Built on the foundation to bring a quality structure

3. Assessor = To ensure all is in place

This is a simple overview of what the Foundation Standards are. A framework to assemble quality.

That is it!

For more information go to: https://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/running-a-practice/the-foundation-standard/

The next blog will highlight your role. Whether you are the Manager, Doctor, Nurse, HCA, Administration, Reception etc. Each role has a part to play in quality.