HOW DOES ISO 9001 CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING A DYNAMIC WITHIN A LONG-TERM CARE HOMES COMMUNITY (RESIDENTS, STAFF, FAMILIES) THAT HELPS SUSTAIN AN OPTIMAL QUALITY OF LIFE?

Taking into account the expectations of key interested parties in the management system – in this case, the residents, their families, and the staff – is a requirement of ISO 9001 that has been strengthened in the latest edition. Identifying these interested parties more precisely in order to integrate their requirements into the QMS in a more relevant way, and ensuring their needs and challenges are being taken into account.

The transition to ISO 9001 involves the development of a system that encompasses all of the critical functions and services that are required when delivering long term care. Interviews with residents and their families enable the system to be developed with input from different points of view and cross-reference that data so that we can build on existing strengths and target improvement actions for a better quality of life.

ISO 9001:2015 HELPS YOU ADAPT TO THE OVER-65S WHO ARE ON THE INCREASE AND REPRESENT A DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC POPULATION. HOW DOES THE STANDARD SUPPORT INNOVATION THE COMMUNITIES VARIOUS NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS?

ISO 9001 emphasizes the importance of getting to know your Organisation, which is in constant flux, namely its environment (internal and external) and its interested parties. This understanding is key to the success of any Organisation.

Developing policies and procedures around the delivery of that service that is reviewed audited and widely available. Ensure a consistent approach to the delivery of service and provide an auditable benchmark from which improvement initiatives can be built. ISO 9001 also requires feedback loops to be built into your systems such as satisfaction surveys with residents and their families enabling you to identify areas that need improvement. Identification and investigation of incidents should be formalized so that analysis of these offers evidence of areas of systemic weakness that need to be investigated and addressed. Other areas such as staff training, maintenance management, and vendor assessment also contribute to the stability of the Organisation and the facility.

Establishing these types of systems then enables your Organisation to focus more directly on innovation and continuous improvement. Innovative thinking and actions can then be initiated in all areas, including resident care, technology, service, management systems, etc. with the full knowledge that you have a control and measurement system that will clearly indicate if these are a success.

Using software such as Paradigm 3 enables you to easily manage the various parts of your QMS such as document control, improvements, and training. Enabling you to automate many of the tasks that is central to ISO 9001 requirements giving you the confidence your system is in control and identifying issues and improvement opportunities and measures that lead to a successful Organisation.

Implementing an ISO 9001 system throughout your Organisation will ensure that you have confidence that your facility is being run for your residents in a cost-effective consistent and improving environment.