Below is a list of frequently asked questions our team receives on the topic of Practice Accreditation.
Click each question below to expand the answer and don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
Why should I get my practice accredited?
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The primary aim of accreditation is to protect the public from harm and improve the quality of healthcare provision.
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Over 500 practices across ACT/NSW are currently involved with the process
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Over 56% of accreditation is directly linked to improving dental practice infection control programs
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Accreditation provides a pathway to demonstrate compliance to national quality and safety standards to healthcare consumers
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Supports continuous quality improvement by identifying areas of opportunity
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Streamlines existing practice systems: and
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Highlights the many ADA resources that are available for members to improve their dental practice operating systems.
How long does it take to achieve Accreditation?
Practices have 12 months to complete the requirements to achieve accreditation – however this is not an indication of how long it does take. We’ve had practices achieve accreditation in as little as a week, whereas other practices have required longer than the 12 month timeframe.
The average time for a practice to achieve accreditation from the time they register is 9 months. Most practices achieve accreditation by following the ADA NSW 12 Week Accreditation Challenge. This is a free program for ADA NSW members. Please get in touch with us and we can get you set up.
How much does it cost to register for Practice Accreditation?
There are 2 Accrediting Agencies to choose from:
- QIP grants you a 2 year introductory cycle after achievement and costs $720 (ex GST) for the initial practice
- HDAA grants you a 3 year introductory cycle after achievement and costs $698 (ex GST) for the initial practice
Further details can be found here.
How do I register my practice?
To get started with accreditation, you need to register and pay for your practice first. We can send you the link to register directly, otherwise visit the registration section of our website.
What if we have more than one dental practice?
We do suggest for practices to complete accreditation simultaneously for each practice location. Most evidence requirements would be applicable across each of your practices, therefore – you would only be submitting this evidence once for each practice. We have supported hundreds of practices that are submitting evidence for multiple locations. Please get in touch before you begin and we will help you to make the process as efficient as possible.
What is a Desktop Assessment?
In a desktop assessment, all evidence submitted to achieve accreditation is reviewed on a computer (or a ‘desktop’) rather than directly via someone visiting your practice. Therefore, to achieve accreditation you submit your evidence into an online portal and an auditor then assesses this remotely.
What does the accrediting agency do when I complete the Accreditation process?
The purpose of the accrediting agency is to assess your evidence against the NSQHS Standards. They decide whether you satisfy the requirements, not the ADA. Once you have achieved accreditation, the accrediting agency will send you a poster for your practice to show your patients you have been accredited.
What if I'm not very savvy?
Don’t worry, the Practice Services team are here to support all team members with a range of computer skills. We routinely support team members to save and organise documents, help with formatting and uploading your documents. We also offer ZOOM sessions to demonstrate how to manage the system. Our priority is to save you time and streamline the process. Onsite support is also available (for a fee) for those wanting to have personal assistance to achieve Accreditation quickly.
Is Accreditation going to be made compulsory for dental practices?
At this stage no, but it may be mandated in the future.
If our practice is following the ADA guidelines and standards, is it necessary to be accredited?
Accreditation is a voluntary, profession led process. Therefore, it is not necessary to be accredited. We like Accreditation as it provides an opportunity to streamline a practice’s operations and policies to improve the quality and safety of healthcare services to ultimately protect the public.
Does Accreditation cover Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)?
Yes! 56% of accreditation is directly linked to IPC.
- Standard 3 – Preventing and Controlling Healthcare Associated Infections is dedicated to IPC
- Week 7 of the ADA NSW 12 Week Accreditation Challenge is dedicated to IPC requirements for accreditation.
What is the 12 Week Accreditation Challenge?
The 12 Week Challenge is a strategy to achieve accreditation. The purpose of the Challenge is to streamline the evidence requirements into manageable chunks. It explains why and how to implement the accreditation outcomes, and addresses all of the FAQs we have received over the past 9 years of supporting practices to achieve accreditation. Hundreds of practices have followed this strategy. The challenge is free for ADA NSW member practices and you can start following it straight away. Week 12 describes how to submit your completed evidence for assessment.
As an ADA member, do I have to do it all myself?
Definitely not, hundreds of dental practitioners have delegated the completion of accreditation to a competent team member – ranging from Practice Managers, Dental Assistants, Hygienists, Receptionists etc. We do encourage practitioners to be across the process as this improves the likelihood of accreditation concepts being successfully implemented across a practice. The 12 Week Challenge supports practitioners to be informed as they can discuss the completed evidence requirements with their team member in a structured way. We are routinely supporting practice team members with accreditation. Please encourage your team to call us often for help as required.
Do you have to be an ADA member to register to Accreditation?
If you would like to receive a discounted registration price and fantastic service and support to achieve accreditation, an ADA Member must be working at your practice. If you are a dentist and would like to take advantage of the quality support and resources available for your practice, please call us and we can help you to become a member of ADA NSW.
What support does Practice Services provide?
Kylie, Rebecca and Vanessa from the Practice Services team are here to assist you in any way we can. Contact us any time for friendly support and guidance. ZOOM sessions are available on request, which allows us to quite literally show you the way!
We love helping practices to achieve accreditation. You can do it! Call us on (02) 8436 9927 or email: practiceservices@adansw.com.au.
