Ensuring MIC’s Clinics Meet the Highest Standards
When you walk into any of MIC’s clinics, you can be confident our facility meets rigorous standards. That’s because each of our clinics is regularly inspected – and accredited – by the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta.
What is the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta?
The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) is the province’s medical regulator. It’s the independent body in charge of safety standards and enforcement. The CPSA’s main role is protecting members of the public. “Our standards help Albertans know that safety and quality are top priorities in Alberta’s medical and diagnostic facilities,” says the CPSA, which has existed for over 100 years.
How does the CPSA protect Albertans?
The CPSA has many roles that contribute to the protection of Albertans, including:
- Developing safety and quality standards
- Registering and monitoring competency of physicians
- Managing complaints
- Inspecting and accrediting health care facilities
- Monitoring changes to equipment
How does a medical imaging clinic become accredited?
The CPSA is responsible for accrediting medical facilities, such as diagnostic imaging clinics and laboratories. When a facility receives accreditation, that means it has met specific safety and quality standards established by the CPSA.
Diagnostic imaging facilities, such as MIC’s clinics, must be accredited before starting operation. After that, they must go through accreditation every four years. Additional inspections may also be done by the CPSA at any time.
What does the CPSA check for?
During an accreditation review, the CPSA visits a clinic with a team of assessors. The assessors have expertise in specific areas, such as ultrasound, X-ray, CT or MRI. When they inspect a clinic, they are ensuring that:
- There is documentation of health and safety procedures
- Health and safety policies are followed
- The physical space is safe for patients and staff
- Patient privacy laws are respected
What happens during an inspection?
We asked Shelley Stokowski, who led MIC through many successful accreditation cycles, what happens during the process. Stokowski has also conducted assessments for the CPSA across Alberta, outside of her work with MIC.
Protecting the Public
Stokowski says employees and patients should keep in mind the goal of accreditation. “The CPSA is there to protect Albertans – the patients and the staff,” she says. As an assessor, she says she’s not hoping employees will make mistakes, but she has a responsibility to document non-compliance. If the CPSA has concerns about safety, hygiene or other areas of practice, it issues a citation. The clinic must address any shortcomings before it receives full accreditation.
Rigorous Inspections
During a clinic inspection, an assessor may follow staff members as they go about their work. With a patient’s permission, the assessor may observe any steps – from check-in to watching a technologist perform an exam.
They will inspect exam rooms, medical equipment, and cleaning and storage areas.
Throughout the inspection, assessors will ask employees questions. As an assessor, Stokowski realizes employees are often nervous. She says a simple request, such as asking to see a procedure manual, can cause anxiety. Part of her approach involves taking time to put people at ease.
“I would watch people go on their computer, and they would roll by that manual 10 times and not see it,” she says.
“And I would say, ‘It’s okay, just take your time. Take a breath,’” she says.
An Opportunity to Improve
As one of MIC’s assessment coordinators, Stokowski says staff education is a big part of her role. The CPSA has developed specific standards for a reason, she says, and understanding why goes a long way in ensuring compliance. For example, she says procedure manuals need to be named and dated to prove the latest policies are followed. Clean linens should not be stored next to wrapped bundles of sheets, because the packaging may not be sanitary.
“If there’s something we need to change to practice better, why wouldn’t we want to do that?”