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Table 2 Analysis of the review process for the RACGP Standards for general practices (4th edition)

From: A mechanism for revising accreditation standards: a study of the process, resources required and evaluation outcomes

Phase

Task

Objective(s)

Time frame

Components

People involved

National Expert Committee - Standards for General Practice (NEC-SGP) involvement

1 Development of review methodology and tools

Develop the review feedback methodology and tools

Develop methodology to collect feedback from members and stakeholders on current standards

1/09/09 - 30/10/09

Review methodology of previous standards review

Senior Project Officer

Review documentation and meet

Develop method of collection and analysis of feedback

Review and update draft tools

Secretariat

Decide on accepted review methodology (October)

Recommend to NEC-SGP review methodology

Project Manager

Recommend review methodology to RACGP Council (November)

NEC-SGP (5)

RACGP Council ratify review methodology

Review the evidence base for current method of standards development

Ensure development of the new standards are supported by latest evidence

1/09/09 - 30/10/09

Literature search of methods of standards development and assessment

Senior Project Officer

Secretariat provide recommendations to NEC-SGP on methodology of standards development (October meeting)

Recommendations to NEC-SGP on how to develop and assess standards

Secretariat

NEC-SGP reviews evidence and accept recommendations on methodology of standards development (October meeting)

Council acceptance of methodology, timeline and cost

Project Manager

NEC-SGP recommends methodology, timeline and budget required to RACGP Council

NEC-SGP (5)

RACGP Council ratifies methodology of standards development process and approves budget (November meeting)

2 Reviewing the evidence base and the current standards

Review the evidence base for current standards

Ensure new edition includes material that is supported by latest evidence

1/09/09 - 31/12/09

Literature search of each criteria in current edition

Senior Project Officer

NEC-SGP decide on inclusion or exclusion of current criteria based on evidence presented (January 2010 meeting)

Recommendations to NEC-SGP on latest trends relating to each criteria’s relevance to the next edition

Secretariat

Decide on membership of subcommittees and chairs; methodology and tools; new material (e.g. e-health, governance, IC, present material)

NEC-SGP (5)

Review the current standards

All feedback on current edition is considered

1/10/09 - 31/01/10

Review feedback collected by RACGP since release of current edition

Project Manager

Secretariat provides analysis of feedback to subcommittees

New material for possible inclusion in revised edition is identified

Collection of feedback from members and stakeholders via focus groups, online surveys and written submissions

Secretariat

Analysis of feedback

Recommendations to NEC-SGP and subcommittees on material identified from formal feedback

3 New material development

Develop new material for new standards

Material included in new edition is evidence based

1/11/09 - 31/03/10

New material is matched with evidence - literature search relating to new material

Senior Project Officer

Secretariat draft new material

New criteria, indicators and explanatory material are drafted

Senior Project Officer

Sub committees recommend changes to drafts, approve draft of new material and make recommendations to NEC-SGP

Project Manager

NEC-SGP accept recommendations of sub committees

Senior Project Officer

NEC-SGP approve draft of new material for trial

Working groups

NEC-SGP recommend draft to RACGP Council for endorsement for trial

Secretariat

4 Develop field trial methodology

Develop field trial methodology

Prepare field trial of revised standards

1/1/10 - 28/2/10

Methodology of field trial of new material is described

Senior Project Officer

Secretariat design trial methodology and tools

Trial tools are developed

GP research expert

Subcommittee approve to methodology and tools

Secretariat

Subcommittees recommend methodology and tools to NEC-SGP

NEC-SGP (5)

NEC-SGP approve trial methodology (April meeting)

NEC-SGP recommend methodology and tools to RACGP Council (April meeting)

5 Drafting, trials and feedback about the new standards

Seek feedback, trial and refine draft new standards

Ensuring new edition of standards meet needs of RACGP and stakeholders

1/4/10 - 31/8/10

First line feedback groups provide an early indication of the feasibility and acceptability of proposed explanatory material and indicators to the working parties

Accreditation agencies (participant numbers not specified)

Subcommittees approve changes and recommend penultimate version to NEC-SGP

On line survey for participation by all interested general practice professionals

Project Manager

NEC-SGP approves penultimate draft (July meeting)

Written submissions

Senior Project Officer

NEC-SGP recommends final Standards to RACGP Council for endorsement

Focus groups

Secretariat

RACGP Council endorses Standards (August meeting)

Trialling of draft standards through field trial (only new Criterion to be tested)

NEC-SGP (5)

6 Standard document revision and production

Format, produce and launch new standards

New edition of standards are produced and released to the sector

1/9/10 - 4/10/10

Ensure formatting of new standards is correct

Project Manager

NEC-SGP members, secretariat and key stakeholders present at launch

New standards are launched during ASC 2010

Senior Project Officer

Online version is made available

Publications/ IT

Complimentary copies sent to key stakeholders

Secretariat