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The Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions ("AR Scheme")

The Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions ("AR Scheme")
Framework

Framework

Objectives

The AR Scheme aims to -

  • protect the public through quality assurance and provision of more information to facilitate informed decision on healthcare services; and
  • enhance the current society-based registration under the principle of professional autonomy and ensure the professional competency of healthcare personnel through self-regulation.

Principle of “One Profession, One Professional Body, One Register”

To avoid confusion to the public, only one professional organisation from each profession that meets the prescribed standards of the AR Scheme will be accredited, and the accredited professional body shall be responsible for administering the register of its own profession. The professional organisation should demonstrate a broad representation of their profession and well-established operation, including bodies set up upon restructuring or merging of associations/ societies of the profession.

Healthcare professions covered in the Pilot Scheme

Application for the Pilot Scheme was launched on 29 December 2016, which initially covered the then 15 non-statutorily registered healthcare professions within the Health Services Functional Constituency of the Legislative Council, i.e. audiologists, audiology technicians, chiropodists/podiatrists, clinical psychologists, dental surgery assistants, dental technicians/technologists, dental therapists, dietitians, dispensers, educational psychologists, mould laboratory technicians, orthoptists, prosthetists/orthotists, scientific officers (medical) and  speech therapists.

These 15 healthcare professions could, based on their individual circumstances, decide on whether to join the Pilot Scheme. Healthcare professions other than the above-mentioned who were interested in joining the Pilot Scheme could submit applications which were considered on a case-by-case basis.

Application for the Pilot Scheme was closed on 17 February 2017.

Operation of the Scheme

The Department of Health has appointed an independent Accreditation Agent to establish the accreditation standards and to assess whether the applying professional body has met the prescribed standards. Accreditation is voluntary and by application. Accredited healthcare professional bodies would be permitted to use an Accreditation Mark. If a professional body is awarded with "Full Accreditation", the accreditation status is valid for 4 years, and the organisation has to undergo a Mid-cycle Review by the Accreditation Agent during the valid period. If a professional body is awarded with "Conditional Accreditation", the accreditation status is only applicable for up to 6 months. The respective professional body must provide written evidence on having fully addressed specific recommendations within 6 months to gain the full accreditation status. Non-compliance to recommendations and suggestions may result in suspension or removal of accreditation.