A social enterprise in the Midlands is celebrating after
becoming the first UK organisation to successfully undergo an audit
by independent healthcare quality body QISMET.
Auditors from QISMET (the Quality Institute for Self Management
Education and Training) were impressed with Birmingham-based Health
Exchange's free Chronic Disease Self Management Course (CDSMC)
programmes to help those with a long-term health conditions learn
how to manage these conditions, which in most cases cannot be
cured.
Rachel Humphries, Self-Managed Services Manager at Health
Exchange said: "The audit process included a full review of our
processes as well as interviewing members of our staff involved in
delivering our CDSMC programmes. They had access to all aspects of
our Self-Managed Services and were very complimentary about our
people and processes".
QISMET, which is partially funded by the Department of Health
(DH) audits providers of self-management programmes across
England to ensure that they are delivering them to a high level of
quality.
Jennifer Jones-Rigby, Intervention Services Manager at Health
Exchange explained: "Our Self-Managed Services are an essential
part of the total package of services we offer to people, helping
them take control of their health and make positive choices to
adopt a healthy lifestyle. We want our services to provide the best
possible quality, and we welcome external assessment to help ensure
we deliver them to the highest possible standards."
Health Exchange's vision is that everyone should be able to make
their own informed, positive choices for a healthier lifestyle. It
offers a wide range of services designed to help people take
control of their health and wellbeing and, as a result, to feel
better about their lifestyle and themselves.