Hospital Accreditation

 
The Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine classifies intensive care units into a number of categories for the purpose of its Regulations relating to training in intensive care medicine.  The Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine expects that supervision of vocational trainees will conform to the principles of the Policy Document IC-4 ‘The Supervision of Vocational Trainees in Intensive Care’. 

All specialists employed in accredited units have an obligation to teach trainees, as outlined in Policy Document IC-2 ‘The Duties of an Intensive Care Specialist in Hospitals Accredited for Training in Intensive Care’.

 
Units are classified as C6 which is suitable for 6 months of the core component of intensive care training, C12 which is suitable for 12 months of the core component of intensive care training, or C24 which is suitable for an unrestricted period (usually no more than 24 months) of the core component of intensive care training.

 
An application for accreditation should be submitted under cover of a written request addressed to the Chairman of the Hospital Accreditation Committee, Dr Ross Freebairn.  A Hospital Data Sheet should be completed, following review of the Joint Faculty's Policy Documents to ensure that the intensive care unit meets the requirements for accreditation before applying.

 
The Hospital Data Sheet is designed to provide the Hospital Accreditation Committee with an overview of the intensive care unit and its facilities, to determine its suitability for accreditation in intensive care training. 

 
Should the Hospital Accreditation Committee agree that the intensive care unit fulfils the requirements for accreditation, a site visit to the unit will be scheduled and attended by a nominated Board representative and 2 local representatives.  This allows the visiting team to formally assess the intensive care unit’s facilities, and prepare a report for submission to the Hospital Accreditation Committee for consideration, and a recommendation is made to the Board which ultimately decides on approval for accreditation and accreditation status.

The Chairman of the Hospital Accreditation Committee will notify the Board’s decision to the Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, the Intensive Care Unit Director, and the Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine Regional Committee.

 
If the unit does not meet the requirements for core intensive care training (C6, C12 or C24), an application for basic training can be considered instead. Please note that intensive care units accredited for core training are also accredited for basic training.

This information can also be found in the Guide for Hospitals Seeking Accreditation for Intensive Care Training.
 

Completed applications should be sent with the cover letter to:

Dr Ross Freebairn
Chairman, Hospital Accreditation Committee
Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
c/o 630 St Kilda Road
Melbourne VIC 3004
Australia