Accréditation Sans Frontières · ASF Health Standards 9.0
Standard 6 · Aftercare & Follow-up
3 criteria · base standard
Base standard. 3 criteria, of which 3 non-negotiable. Each criterion is numbered 6.Y, with its classification and verification questions.
Criteria
- 6.1 Every Discharged Patient Gets an Aftercare Plan (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
- 6.2 A Defined Mechanism Checks on the Patient After They Leave (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
- 6.3 Patients Can Complain After Leaving, and Complaints Are Read (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
6.1 Every Discharged Patient Gets an Aftercare Plan
NON-NEGOTIABLE
Every discharged patient receives a documented aftercare plan they can explain back in their own words — not a printed sheet handed over on the way out the door.
VERIFICATION QUESTIONS
- Does every discharged patient receive a documented aftercare plan specific to their situation?
Not a generic discharge sheet — content specific to this patient's condition and treatment. - Can a recently discharged patient explain their own aftercare plan in their own words?
Tests whether the plan was understood, not just handed over. - Does the plan cover medication, warning signs, and who to contact if something goes wrong?
A plan missing any of these three leaves a gap in what the patient needs to manage safely at home.
6.2 A Defined Mechanism Checks on the Patient After They Leave
NON-NEGOTIABLE
A defined mechanism exists to check on the patient after discharge — a scheduled call, a follow-up appointment, or an equivalent contact — not merely "available on request" if the patient happens to reach back out.
VERIFICATION QUESTIONS
- Is there a defined mechanism to actively check on patients after discharge, not just availability on request?
The facility initiating contact, not merely being reachable if the patient calls first. - Does the mechanism apply consistently, not only for cases staff happen to remember?
A follow-up system that depends on individual staff memory is not a reliable system. - Is there a defined escalation if a follow-up contact reveals a concerning symptom or complication?
Detecting a problem during follow-up is only useful if something happens as a result.
6.3 Patients Can Complain After Leaving, and Complaints Are Read
NON-NEGOTIABLE
A complaint or feedback channel exists that a patient can use after they have left the facility, with evidence that complaints are read and acted on, not merely collected.
VERIFICATION QUESTIONS
- Can a patient submit a complaint or feedback after leaving the facility, not only while present?
A suggestion box in the waiting room alone does not meet this — there needs to be a way to reach the facility afterwards too. - Is there evidence complaints are read and result in a response, not just filed?
A collected complaint with no follow-through provides no value to the patient or the facility. - Have any complaints led to a documented change in practice?
A complaints system that has never led to a change should be questioned, not simply checked for the existence of a form. ————————————————————