Why Accreditation Matters
Accreditation refers to the official certification by a recognized authority that an organization, service, or individual has demonstrated competence, authority, or credibility to meet a set of standards. Jha (2018) argues that the guidelines are used to evaluate the quality of care a healthcare organization provides. Without these regulations, patients would not receive the necessary high-quality treatment; the facility would not be kept clean, and their surroundings would be hazardous. Patients and employees would not perceive that they are in a safe and clean environment.
The healthcare industry is constantly working to enhance care quality while establishing new benchmarks. Accreditation’s capacity to demonstrate a dedication to quality and provide a point of differentiation from other enterprises in the industry contributes significantly to its worth (Jha, 2018). It delivers medical services of the highest quality and meets all international requirements. It facilitates the adoption of stricter standards. Accreditation ensures outcomes or results are of high quality. It increases the process integration and contributes to the preservation of an audit strategy.
Healthcare Areas that CARF Accredit
The commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities ensures the provision of high-quality services to patients. It accredits rehabilitative areas such as Services for the Aging, Behavioral Healthcare, and Services for children and young people (Gowda et al., 2022). It also focuses on social care, therapeutic healthcare, special Programs for Opioid Medication, and Services for Vision Rehabilitation
Healthcare Areas where the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Accredit
The Joint Commission’s primary objective is to improve the quality of medical care available to people in all parts of the United States of America. The commission conducts inspections of institutions to examine how much they can deliver medical care. According to (Wang & Tabshouri, 2018), the project aims to raise the bar for the quality of these establishments. For the commission to accomplish its goal, it grants accreditation to various facilities and organizations. These include ambulatory care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, and treatment centers for mental and behavioral health issues.
Using the CMS Impact Assessment Report, Indicator that Improved and Indicator that Declined
It may be difficult for financially struggling hospitals to maintain quality and patient safety, and they may also have poorer patient outcomes when compared to hospitals with enough resources. Indicators that had improved were highlighted in the CMS evaluation report, and those that had worsened (Akinleye, McNutt, Lazariu, & McLaughlin, 2019). Meaningfulness for providers was increased through the measurement of patient outcomes, all while reducing the costs associated with reporting.
Reference
Akinleye, D. D., McNutt, L., Lazariu, V., & McLaughlin, C. C. (2019). Correlation between hospital finances and quality and safety of patient care. PLOS ONE, 14(8).
Gowda, G., Sahu, P., Vijaykumar, K., Ganjekar, S., Murthy, P., & Thippeswamy, H. (2022). The scope and challenges for accreditation of Quality Care in Mental Health – Perspectives from India. Journal of Psychiatry Spectrum, 1(1), 21.
Jha, A. K. (2018). Accreditation, quality, and making hospital care better. JAMA, 320(23), 2410.