Voluntary Accreditation in Healthcare
Voluntary Accreditation in Healthcare
Achieving accreditation can showcase a health care facility’s commitment towards patient safety and the highest quality of care. Gaining accreditation is a voluntary process that is done through an organization that holds their own set of high standards; the accrediting process is long and specific. By following through the process and gaining accreditation, the health care facility is set apart from others and creates a reputation for quality and safety. This briefing will review the accrediting process, requirements and provide a brief summary of accrediting organizations such as The Joint Commission.
Accreditation in Healthcare
Though voluntary, accreditation in healthcare can become an astonishingly profitable business decision. The standards required for accreditation are high and to achieve them is a process that takes time and commitment. By going through the peer-reviewed compliance evaluations involved with accreditation, organizations demonstrate they can meet the needed requirements and are compliant with their standards (Alkhenizan & Shaw, 2011). When an organization undergoes the process of accreditation, there is an associated level of performance and care for patients that is higher than a standard provider without accreditation. Although internal standards may be organized within a healthcare organization, when accreditation is received, national and/or local standards are also followed (Greenfield, 2019).
There are differing accrediting organizations, the most recognizable of these are The Joint Commission, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation and Accreditation Commission for Health Care. To receive accreditation through these accrediting bodies, specific standards of compliance must be met by the organization. The accreditation organization uses a review processes to ensure that the specific standards for each accreditation are met (Greenfield, 2019). Each accreditation has…
