Just yesterday, I received an email informing me that the AS 4187 compliance deadline of December this year had been extended.
However I was unable to find anything. So I mentioned it to our Office Manager who then went off and tried her luck with Google.
She came across a document from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. The document was ‘Advisory No: A16/03 – Reprocessing of reusable medical devices in health service organisations’...
The document was released on June 3, 2016.
The author and the keeper of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards is the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
It is in fact these standards which determine whether or not Health Service organisations in Australia are fit for purpose. This is not just a standard, this is law. You cannot gain accreditation as a health service organisation in Australia unless you comply with the NSQHS standards.
Advisory No: A16/03
The advisory document relates to Standard 3 of the NSQHS standards – ‘Preventing and Controlling Healthcare Associated Infections’. In particular, it relates to Action 3.16.1
Compliance with relevant national or international standards and manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation of reusable instruments and devices is regularly monitored"
Which belongs to section 3.16
Reprocessing reusable medical equipment, instruments and devices in accordance with relevant national or international standards and manufacturers’ instructions"
This is interesting because the NSQHS doesn’t specifically refer to AS 4187, however, I guess that’s implied by the term ‘relevant national standards’
Anyway, the advisory document makes it quite clear,
The Australian Standard AS/NZS 4187 is the national standard most commonly used to meet the requirements in Action 3.16.1."
It then goes on to further clarify,
AS/NZS 4187:2014 replaces AS/NZS 4187:2003 and becomes operational in December 2016. Standards Australia has withdrawn AS/NZS 4187:2003."
The Requirements
To comply with the requirements of Action 3.16.1, where health service organisations apply AS/NZS 4187:2014 health service organisations will need to:
a) complete a gap analysis to determine the current level of compliance with AS/NZS 4187:2014 and document the findings
b) document a detailed implementation plan specifying timeframes to enable full implementation of AS/NZS 4187:2014 over a five year period, from December 2016
c) implement the plan and demonstrate progress toward implementation
So, if my math is correct, compliance with AS/NZS 4187:2014 is postponed until December 2021.
So this has got to be great news for all and sundry. The pressure is off.
But it doesn’t of course mean we can all go on holidays for next 5 years.
In fact, there is still a lot to do;
- complete a gap analysis
- document a detailed implementation plan
- implement the plan
- demonstrate progress toward implementation.
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So what about accreditation then?
The Advisory document goes on to direct accreditation agencies to:
a) assess progress on implementation at each accreditation assessment
b) rate Action 3.16.1 met only in health service organisations that demonstrate progress towards full implementation as set out in their implementation plan for AS/NZS 4187:2014
So basically, you’ll be accredited on Action 3.16.1 based on the level of progress you have made as stated in your implementation plan.
Conclusion
So what does that really mean?
Recall that Action 3.16.1 states ‘compliance with relevant national or international standard and manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation of reusable instrument and devices regularly monitored.’
Are they saying that now compliance to 3.16.1 can be met with an implementation plan?
What about the actual requirements of AS/NZS 4187:2014? Does this mean you won’t be accredited on those, but just on where you are up to in your plan to implement those?
But what about our friends over the ditch? 4187 is a New Zealand standard as well. Does this mean that New Zealand health service organisations still need to comply by December 2016? The advisory regarding the extension does only relate to Australia.
You can download a copy of the Advisory at:
