Implementation of National Accreditation Standards for Trauma Recovery Programs, Department of Veterans’ Affairs

A new set of trauma recovery programs (PTSD) accreditation Standards were introduced by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) in 2015. The contracted hospital providers were required to meet the new set of accreditation Standards by June 2017.

DVA engaged HMA to assist with the implementation of the new accreditation Standards. HMA worked with providers and accreditors during this process, and informed DVA of the implications for refinement and ongoing development of the Standards.

HMA completed the following tasks:

• provided information sessions on the Standards to service providers and accrediting agencies
• conducted post-accreditation interviews
• delivered ongoing support on the accreditation framework to service providers and accrediting agencies
• assessed the implications of feedback for refinement to the Standards and support resources, and
• developed, identified and adapted resources/tools to further assist with implementation of the Standards.

HMA prepared advice for the Department on how the existing DVA PTSD standards should be modified to accommodate newly released National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards released in 2018.

The project commenced in May 2016 and was completed in June 2018.