Five reasons why the RACGP 6th edition Standards and quality improvement go hand in hand

Quality improvement (QI) is embedded in the RACGP Standards for general practices (6th edition). These new standards are designed not only to assess whether a practice is providing safe, high-quality care, but also to ensure the practice is continuously improving its systems, processes and patient outcomes. Below we explore the linkage.

1. Continuous improvement is a core purpose of the Standards

The RACGP states that accreditation against the Standards aims to:

• improve patient safety
• improve patient-centred care
• improve healthcare quality
• foster a culture of continuous quality improvement (CQI)
• support safe and effective practice systems and processes.

The Standards provide practices with a framework for identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes over time.

2. Quality improvement is now a dedicated Standard

In the 6th edition structure, continuous quality improvement is one of the key standards, alongside:

• foundations of general practice
• clinical governance
• patient participation
• continuous quality improvement
• point-of-care testing (optional).

This highlights that QI is no longer viewed as an occasional activity but as a fundamental part of running a modern general practice.

3. QI helps practices meet accreditation requirements

Many accreditation requirements are demonstrated through QI activities, such as:

• reviewing clinical data
• conducting audits
• monitoring patient outcomes
• evaluating patient feedback
• implementing changes and measuring results
• managing risks and incidents.

Instead of solely implementing policies, practices should demonstrate that they regularly review their performance and make necessary improvements. Clear and straightforward systems are essential, and the use of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles is one example of how this can be effectively accomplished.

4. QI improves patient outcomes

Quality improvement enables practices to move beyond compliance and focus on better health outcomes. Examples include increasing vaccination rates, improving chronic disease management and enhancing preventive health screening.

These activities align directly with the RACGP's goal of delivering safe, effective and patient-centred care.

5. The 6th edition emphasises a culture of quality

The Standards are built around clinical governance, patient participation and continuous improvement. Together, these encourage practices to:

• use data to make decisions
• engage patients in service improvement
• learn from incidents and feedback
• adapt to changing community needs
• foster staff involvement in quality improvement activities.

Through this, QI becomes part of everyday practice rather than a task completed only before accreditation.

Accreditation is not just about meeting standards today; it’s about utilising quality improvement to ensure we continue to meet and exceed them tomorrow.

Visit Practice Support to learn more and to access resources to support your practice.