Accreditation is an internationally recognized evaluation system that the Canadian Mental Health Association uses to make sure we continue to meet evolving care standards and provide the highest level of quality care possible. Being accredited means that we have been assessed by the third party organization, Accreditation Canada, and have proven ourselves to be meeting or exceeding current health care standards.
The accreditation process involves visits from health care professionals representing Accreditation Canada, who speak with staff, volunteers, clients, and families to gain a better understanding of our care practices.
Accreditation Canada recently conducted an on-site survey of our organization and we were accredited with Exemplary Standing, which is the highest award that Accreditation Canada will provide. This award is the result of our collective commitment to providing our clients with safe, high-quality care. Being accredited is a significant achievement! We are very proud of everyone who works here and their commitment to quality improvement. Year after year, changes to the accreditation program require a shift in how we work. The on-site survey is a way of validating our achievements, and also of identifying areas requiring improvement so we can create a plan to address these and continually improve as an organization. The on-site survey was an excellent learning experience and highlighted the ways in which we can make our services better.
For more information about what Accreditation is please see Accreditation Basics which will provide you with further information.