CORNERSTONE is a combined quality improvement and quality assurance process which uses a set of measurements collated in the publication Aiming for Excellence.

 

The CORNERSTONE General Practice Accreditation process requires general practices to review themselves against a set of indicators established by a multidisciplinary group and now regarded as the standard for New Zealand general practice. The indicators are grouped under five headings:

1. Factors affecting patients
2. Physical factors affecting the practice
3. Clinical practice systems
4. Practice and patient information management
5. Quality improvement and professional development

 

There are 49 indicators in this latest Aiming for Excellence.  Each indicator describes a measurable element of practice performance for which there is evidence that it can be used to assess the quality, and change in the quality, of care provided.

Participation in the programme enables practices to validate the quality of the patient care they provide against a recognised standard.

Each indicator has been designed to consider patients first. Key considerations are:

 

• Is the practice safe, accessible, effective, efficient, responsive and sensitive to cultural groups?
• Is the practice team actively committed to improving the quality of service provided?

 

CORNERSTONE takes a whole practice approach to self assessment and gap analysis and the actions to identify and manage criteria that pose a risk to the practice and patients. CORNERSTONE assessors are peers who undertake a one day external assessment of the practice and systematically review the practice against the indicators, criteria and standards in Aiming for Excellence.

Health & Disability Auditing New Zealand (HDANZ) provide oversight of the CORNERSTONE General Practice Accreditation Programme and independent verification of the practice assessment reports. HDANZ is a Designated Audit Agency and accredited as an independent certifying body. They recommend practices to the College for final accreditation.