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brief history
The
Health Quality Service is an operating division of CHKS Ltd.
HQS was formerly known as Kings Fund Organisational Audit
(KFOA) and was part of the Kings Fund. In 1998 KFOA changed
its name to the Health Quality Service and in 2000 became
an independent charity in its own right. Since January 2005
HQS has been part of CHKS Ltd, a company specialising in knowledge
management systems for healthcare.
1989
The programme begins as a project in the King's Fund Quality
Programme, looking at the application of a standards-based
quality programme for UK hospitals.
1990
The King's Fund Organisational Audit (KFOA) is established
1991
- 1997 KFOA launches the programme on a fee paying
basis with clients recruited from the NHS and independent
sector; develops and revises programmes for primary care,
health authorities, community, mental health and learning
disabilities services, and develops standards for nursing
and residential care homes.
1998
KFOA is re-launched as The Health Quality Service, the
concept of performance indicators is piloted, and standards
and an assessment programme for primary care groups initiated.
1999
HQS gains accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation
Service (UKAS) as an ISO9002 certification body. Thus organisations
can pursue ISO9002 certification in addition to HQS accreditation
by working with the same programme. A
new Accreditation Programme is introduced for acute hospitals,
community, mental health, learning disability and specialist
palliative care services; a new programme for hospice care
launched, and a revised programme developed for primary care
teams. Hospitals
in Portugal join the international programme.
2000
HQS is established as an independent charitable organisation,
limited by guarantee and moves into new offices. A programme
for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services is launched.
HQS gained accreditation from the International Society for
Quality in Health Care (ISQua) for the period 2000 - 2004.
The HQS website is launched.
2001
A programme for Primary Care Trusts is developed and a revised
Primary Health Care Team programme published. A Cruise Ships
programme is launched. Hospitals, primary care and nursing
homes in the County of Sonderylland, Denmark, join the international
programme. Help is provided to the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina to re-establish the country's health service.
2002
Version 4 of the Independent Hospital Accreditation Programme
is published which, for the first time, includes standards
linked to associated results. The international programme
expands into Italy, the Republic of Ireland and United Arab
Emirates. HQS
consultancy services are launched.
2003
New programme for day surgery launched; revised programme
for hospices is published; new standards for acquired brain
injury services and new standards for international hospitals
are developed. The international programme expands into South
Africa and Turkey. Helping the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
develop a national quality and accreditation agency. UK and
international consultancy services become established working
with clients which include the NHS, independent hospitals
and government agencies.
2005
HQS becomes part of CHKS Ltd, a UK based company specialising
in knowledge systems for healthcare. The merger combines the
CHKS expertise in clinical benchmarking with the experience
HQS has from running quality accreditation programmes. The
fourth edition of the Accreditation Programme for NHS Trusts
is published. The
fifth edition of the Accreditation Programme for Primary Health
Care Teams is published.
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