Identifying Mistakes Providers Make With Accreditation
Robert J. Floro, director of the accreditation program for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) talked with Home Health Products about how providers are doing with the accreditation process.
After selecting an accrediting body, providers need to closely follow and use the tools provided by the accrediting agencies that identify the proper processes and procedures.
"Most providers have been prepared for survey by The Joint Commission," says Floro. "All new organizations are provided a toolkit which contains complete information regarding survey process, application instructions, standards compliance, fees and contacts. Additionally, we provide organizations with our DMEPOS standards at no charge, and continual electronic and/or voice assistance in complying with our requirements," Floro says.
What are some areas where providers are making mistakes?
Floro:Areas in which organizations may wish to improve their familiarity are Performance Improvement (especially those CMS-mandated indicators), Patient Education (especially mail-order) and Infection Control.
How are providers doing with the unannounced surveys? Are they allowing for enough time for these visits?
Floro:The unannounced process is new to the DMEPOS industry. Organizations have been challenged, especially when there is a perception that leadership must be present fo all survey activities, and their schedules do not allow. After the survey begins, and leaders and staff realize that The Joint Commission is interested in patient care and services, they become more comfortable with the unannounced process. The Joint Commission sets the agendas for the on-site survey, not the organizations. Adequate time is allocated by the accreditor for patient visits.
What are some accreditation best practices?
Patient visits and/or interviews are critical to a credible evaluation. A simple review of policies and procedures and staff/leader interviews will not effectively evaluate the organization's compliance with Joint Commission and CMS requirements. Adequate time must be allocated to accomplish these interviews.
For more information, visit The Joint Commission at
www.jcaho.org.
To read more tips on how to better prepare for accreditation, look for October's Home Health Products: Accreditation Check In, page 56.
Additional Accrediting Agencies
Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc.
www.achc.org.
American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics Inc.
www.abcop.org .
Board of Certification in Pedorthics
www.abcop.org .
Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification
www.bocusa.org.
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
www.carf.org.
Community Health Accreditation Program
www.chapinc.org.
The Compliance Team Inc.
www.exemplaryprovider.com.
Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation
www.hqaa.org.
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
www.nabp.net.
National Board of Accreditation for Orthotic Suppliers
www.nbaos.org.
This article originally appeared in the September 2007 issue of HME Business.