Siksika Health Services receives Accreditation with Commendation status

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Siksika Health Services has announced they have once again been awarded an Accreditation with Commendation status by Accreditation Canada.

This falls under the Qmentum Global accreditation program. Kory Duck Chief, Siksika Health Services quality assurance officer, explained the team has maintained this status since 2007.

“Accreditation with Commendation is basically granted to health organizations across Canada that meet or exceed the standards (set by the accreditation process), and they are commended by meeting most of the standards,” she said. “We met about 98 per cent of the standards with our last onsite accreditation survey. The onsite accreditation survey is basically where Accreditation Canada sends out their trained surveyors who are professionals in their specific areas.”

Duck Chief explained Siksika Health Services’ original accreditation served to put the organization on the map as being among those maintaining some of the highest standards of practice across the country.

The accreditation process involves an extensive review and assessment of organizational programs, services and facilities. Siksika Health Services underwent a thorough onsite survey in early December.

“Being accredited basically stated that here is an organization on the First Nation that has met all of the standards that are best practices from across Canada, and it opens doors in regard to getting additional services and helping us to grow the organization,” said Duck Chief. “It definitely does make a difference because there is that assurance that as long as there are individuals working within an accredited organization … people will reach out to us requesting partnerships, or even other organizations reach out to us to provide them with assistance as to how they can start on their own accreditation journey.”

She added the accreditation which has been maintained since 2007 has also served to help grow the organization, inviting services to come into the nation which were previously unavailable locally.

Previously, the accreditation period was renewed every four years. This practice has recently been shifted to renew every three years instead. The last time Siksika Health Services was surveyed was in 2022, achieving an exemplary status with Accreditation Canada.

“We have also opened up our doors as well in the past even to the surrounding communities, whether it was during the pandemic or H1N1. We actually partnered quite closely with a lot of the surrounding communities to provide services that are needed as well because we know the hardships of what the health system is going through,” said Duck Chief. “By partnering with others and knowing that we know our practices well, we can benefit from helping others in surrounding communities.”