RACGP Standards for general practices
Update on the development of the 4th edition of the RACGP Standards for general practices
The RACGP has concluded consultation on the draft RACGP Standards for general practices (4th edition). The feedback received has been analysed and the RACGP is now in the process of finalising the 4th edition of the Standards before approval by RACGP Council. The 4th edition will officially be launched at GP10 – the RACGP annual conference – in October 2010. It is anticipated that 4th edition will replace the current edition from the second half of 2011.
The feedback we received from the profession and stakeholders has provided a depth of insight that has given the Committee confidence that the Standards will be relevant and useful and will be of value to practices into the future. We would like to thank everyone who provided feedback. The College understands that GPs and our practice team members are extremely busy, and the response received demonstrates the profession’s commitment to ensuring the Standards reflect the current realities of general practice.
Click here to access the draft 4th edition of the Standards: Draft RACGP Standards for General Practices (4th Edition) (3.5MB)
For more information on the standards, please email standards@racgp.org.au.
Submissions, for which permission has been granted to make them publically available, are available here.
Introduction
The RACGP Standards for General Practices (3rd
Edition)
is a clear demonstration of the commitment of Australian general
practitioners and Australian general practices to high quality care for
our communities.
The commitment of Australian general practices to this high standard of care cannot be overstated. While these RACGP Standards for General Practices (3rd Edition) are a result of widespread consultation both within and beyond Australian general practice, in the end we develop them for our own use. The RACGP Standards for General Practices are used by general practice accreditation agencies, but the principal aim of the RACGP Standards for General Practices has always been as a tool for us to assess and improve the care our own practices provide.
The links below will take you to information about certain topics of the RACGP Standards for General Practices (3rd Edition).
This revised edition includes updated Standards for after hours care services.
Copyright Notice
Acknowledgments
Foreward
Preamble

Addendum (Applicable to practices registering for
accreditation after 1 July 2007).
Standard 1.1 - Access to care
Criterion 1.1.1 Scheduling care in opening hours
Criterion 1.1.2 Telephone and electronic advice
Criterion 1.1.3 Home and other visits
Criterion 1.1.4 Care outside normal opening hours
Evidence base
Standard 1.2 - Information about the practice
Criterion 1.2.1 Practice information
Criterion 1.2.2 Informed patient decisions
Criterion 1.2.3 Interpreter services
Criterion 1.2.4 Costs within our practice
Criterion 1.2.5 Costs for referred services
Evidence base
Standard 1.3 - Health promotion and prevention of
disease
Criterion 1.3.1 Health promotion and preventive
care
Evidence base
Standard 1.4 - Diagnosis and management of specific health
problems
Criterion 1.4.1 Evidence based practice
Criterion 1.4.2 Clinical autonomy for GPs
Evidence base
Standard 1.5 - Continuity of care
Criterion 1.5.1 Continuity of comprehensive care
Criterion 1.5.2 Continuity of the therapeutic
relationship
Criterion 1.5.3 Consistent approach
Criterion 1.5.4 System for follow up of tests and
results
Evidence base
Standard 1.6 - Coordination of care
Criterion 1.6.1 Engaging with other services
Criterion 1.6.2 Referral documents
Evidence base
Standard 1.7 - Content of patient health records
Criterion 1.7.1 Patient health records
Criterion 1.7.2 Health summaries
Criterion 1.7.3 Consultation notes
Evidence base
Standard 2.1 - Collaborating with patients
Criterion 2.1.1 Respectful and culturally appropriate
care
Criterion 2.1.2 Patient feedback
Criterion 2.1.3 Presence of a third party
Evidence base
Standard 3.1 - Safety and quality
Criterion 3.1.1 Quality improvement activities
Criterion 3.1.2 Clinical risk management system
Evidence base
Standard 3.2 - Education and training
Criterion 3.2.1 General practitioner
qualifications
Criterion 3.2.2 Clinical staff qualifications
Criterion 3.2.3 Training of staff who have non-clinical
roles
Evidence base
Standard 4.1 - Practice systems
Criterion 4.1.1 Human resource system
Criterion 4.1.2 Occupational health and safety
Evidence base
Standard 4.2 - Management of health information
Criterion 4.2.1 Confidentiality and privacy of health
information
Criterion 4.2.2 Information security
Criterion 4.2.3 Transfer of patient health
information
Criterion 4.2.4 Retention and destruction of patient
health information
Evidence base
Standard 5.1 - Facilities and access
Criterion 5.1.1 Practice facilities
Criterion 5.1.2 Physical conditions conducive to
confidentiality and privacy
Criterion 5.1.3 Physical access
Evidence base
Standard 5.2 - Equipment for comprehensive care
Criterion 5.2.1 Practice equipment
Criterion 5.2.2 Doctor’s bag
Evidence base
Standard 5.3 - Clinical support processes
Criterion 5.3.1 Schedule 8 medicines
Criterion 5.3.2 Vaccine potency
Criterion 5.3.3 Perishable materials
Criterion 5.3.4 Infection control
Evidence base
Appendix A - History of Standards
Development
Appendix B History of
Accreditation
Glossary
References
Related files
Draft RACGP Standards for General Practices (4th Edition)(747KB)
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