In the spring of 2021, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) and Health Standards Organization (HSO) announced that they would be collaborating to develop two complementary National Standards of Canada for long-term care (LTC). These standards assist in addressing the unique and some longstanding challenges within Canada’s LTC sector brought to light during the global COVID-19 pandemic. They are meant to help ensure that LTC home residents receive safe, reliable, and high-quality care, supported by a strong and resilient workforce, in appropriately designed settings.

Today, CSA Group and HSO are pleased to announce that drafts of both standards are now available for public review. During the 60-day public review period, all Canadians are encouraged to review both draft standards and submit comments and suggested changes. All feedback will be carefully reviewed and considered by the respective organizations as they prepare the final standards for publication later this year.

The National Standard of Canada for Operation and Infection Prevention and Control of Long-Term Care Homes (CSA Z8004) being developed by CSA Group, is intended to provide guidance on safe operating practices and infection prevention and control (IPAC) in LTC homes.  The draft standard topics are currently divided into the following major sections: organizational commitments, operations, infection prevention and control (IPAC), design, LTC home systems, information and technology, and training. Details about the public review of CSA Z8004 include:

• CSA Z8004 will be available for a 60-day public review and comment period until April 11^th, 2022.
• The draft CSA Z8004, is available in both English and French. A one-time registration on the CSA Group public review site is required.
• CSA Group will host three information sessions tailored to priority stakeholder groups and topics including residents, families and caregivers; frontline workers and operational staff; and equity, diversity, and inclusion. Interested Canadians are invited to register to attend these sessions or email [email protected] to learn more.
• In January 2022, CSA Group released a final What We Heard report summarizing what LTC home residents, families, caregivers, frontline staff, and operators shared during six consultation sessions and three surveys.

The National Long-Term Care Services Standard (CAN/HSO 21001:2022) being developed by HSO provides clear requirements and responsibilities to enable LTC home teams including residents, the workforce, organizational and governing bodies to work together towards a common vision for resident-centred, high-quality care. The draft standard offers guidance on providing resident-centred care, providing high-quality care, enabling a healthy, competent, and resilient LTC home workforce, and upholding strong governance practices and operations.

• CAN/HSO 21001:2022 was developed by HSO’s LTC Services Standard Technical Committee and informed by the 16,093 responses to the National Inaugural Survey, as well as the input of an additional 1,984 participants in subsequent consultation and engagement activities. Read about the findings from these engagement activities in HSO’s What We Heard Reports #1 and #2 here.
• CAN/HSO 21001:2022 was launched for a 60-day Public Review on January 27^th, 2022. Members of the public are invited to provide feedback on the draft standard until March 27^th, 2022 here.

CSA Group and HSO will also host a 1-hour joint information session on February 17^th, 2022 at 12pm EST. Interested Canadians are invited to register to attend the session and learn more.

CSA Group and HSO have both undertaken enhanced engagement activities to help ensure that the perspectives of residents, family, caregivers, and professionals were heard and incorporated into the development of their draft standards. These enhanced engagement activities, which go above and beyond the requirements of the accredited standards development process, included multiple consultation sessions and surveys and will continue during and beyond this public review period as both organizations work to finalize these new National Standards of Canada for LTC.

Quotes:

“The public review process not only represents a significant project milestone, but one of the most consequential in the standards development process,” Mary Cianchetti, President of Standards, CSA Group. “It represents another way for stakeholders to contribute to these standards; helping to produce a resource that is practical and supports the building of a better future for LTC in Canada.”

“The importance of this work cannot be understated,” says Leslee Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of HSO. “Our Technical Committee has been diligently working on the draft standard for months, and we are looking forward to hearing feedback from the public on the work that has been done so far.”

About CSA Group

CSA Group is a global organization dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. They are a leader in Standards Development and in Testing, Inspection and Certification around the world including Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia. Their mandate is to hold the future to a higher standard.

About the Health Standards Organization

Health Standards Organization (HSO) is a global organization focused on developing world-class, evidence-based standards, assessment programs and quality improvement solutions. HSO is the only Standards Development Organization (SDO) solely dedicated to health and social services. Affiliated with Accreditation Canada (AC), HSO’s standards form the basis of AC’s accreditation programs and are used in over 15,000 locations and 38 countries. HSO and AC also undergo extensive third-party accreditation in order to meet internationally recognized requirements from the Standards Council of Canada, the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) and the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC).

Media may contact

Kimberly Gibson
CSA Group
416-388-2371
[email protected]

Brigitte Pellerin
Health Standards Organization (HSO)
[email protected]