Today, healthcare organizations strive to deliver the best possible quality of care. To aid the efforts of these organizations, such agencies as the Joint Commission have developed standards that the care providers should meet. The Joint Commission’s primary mandate is to facilitate the delivery of care that is in line with set standards. In fulfilling this mandate, the commission examines the operations of healthcare providers. If determined to be compliant with standards, the providers are issued with accreditation. This accreditation serves a number of important functions.
Value of Accreditation
The Joint Commission issues accreditation to healthcare institutions. While it is not the sole issuer of accreditation, this agency is recognized for the pressure that it imposes on the institutions that wish to gain accreditation. Once it has received the agency’s accreditation, there are various advantages that a medical provider enjoys. One, an accreditation offers the provider competitive advantage in the marketplace (“Simplifying the Joint Commission”, n.d). An accreditation suggests that the provider has an established culture and history of quality service. This reputation enables the provider to attract patients, thereby becoming competitive. Two, through accreditation, a provider receives advice from the Joint Commission (“Simplifying the Joint Commission”, n.d). The advice mostly focuses on the approaches that the provider can adopt to enhance staff development. Moreover, the Joint Commission advises the recipients of the accreditation on how to recruit staff. Three, thanks to the accreditation, providers gain the confidence and trust of such parties as insurers (“Simplifying the Joint Commission”, n.d). Essentially, the accreditation indicates that the provider has met certain requirements. Satisfying these requirements boosts the trustworthiness of the provider in the eyes of insurers.
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Accreditation, Regulation, and Certification
Accreditation, regulation and certification are among the common terms used when referring to the processes that healthcare providers go through when seeking to comply with guidelines. Basically, accreditation involves the evaluation of a healthcare provider’s processes and operations to determine if they meet set standards (Rooney, & Ostenberg, 1999). Such bodies as the Joint Commission conduct the accreditation. Certification is a process through which after an evaluation, an organization is recognized for meeting established standards and guidelines (Rooney, & Ostenberg, 1999). In some cases, the organization is presented with a document which represents its satisfaction of the set requirements. Regulation is concerned with the monitoring of the operations of organizations to ensure compliance with guidelines, laws and policies (Healy & Dugdale, 2010). Government agencies, professional associations and individual institutions can serve as regulators.
Steps in Earning Accreditation
To earn accreditation from the Joint Commission, a healthcare provider needs to participate in a process composed of a number of steps. First, the provider needs to satisfy the prerequisites for the survey that the Joint Commission conducts. The conditions include being a provider of medical services that is operational at the time of application, a commitment to improving quality of care, and ensuring that the services provided satisfy the standards of the Joint Commission (“General Presurvey Policies”, 2015). With the prerequisites met, the provider is set to proceed to the other steps. The Joint Commission has developed an online tool for the accreditation process. Using this tool, the provider seeking accreditation completes a survey application. Next, the Joint Commission dispatches surveyors whose primary mandate is to determine if the provider actually satisfies the standards. If it is determined that the provider does indeed meet the standards, it receives accreditation.
Potential Risks in Accreditation Process
Accreditation delivers various benefits to healthcare providers. However, while seeking accreditation, the providers should exercise caution. The need for care stems from the fact that there are certain risks that may arise as the providers seek accreditation. The imposition of pressure on practitioners is among these risks. In its quest to earn accreditation, a provider may require its staff to work extremely hard. For example, practitioners may be asked to work for longer hours. While the provider may obtain the accreditation, its practitioners will be left frustrated and exhausted. Another potential risk concerns fraud. To meet the strict requirements of the Joint Commission and other accreditation bodies, a provider may engage in such fraudulent activities as falsifying records. To avoid these risks, healthcare providers should adopt ethics and ensure that the application process strictly adheres to established standards.
Best Practices for Self-Assessments
Accreditation shows that an organization has satisfied certain standards. While the desire to gain accreditation is among the factors that should inspire providers to engage in continuous quality improvement, the providers should also strive to improve quality for its own sake. Self-assessments are among the measures that ensure quality improvement. A number of best-practices are commended for institutions which wish to boost quality of care. Conducting the self-assessments at least once every year is one of the best practices (“Best Practices for Self-Assessment”, n.d). Another best practice is involving outside parties in the self-assessments. By involving outsiders, an institution shields the assessment against bias. Focusing on improving safety and quality are other best practices (“Best Practices for Self-Assessment”, n.d). As they place emphasis on these issues, medical service providers challenge themselves to enhance safety and quality. Striving to identify interventions that can improve quality is another best practice. If they adopt these practices, medical institutions can expect to conduct credible self-assessments.
In conclusion, it is the desire of most providers of medical services to deliver quality, safe and affordable care. To achieve this desire, these providers adopt strategies and measures that are consistent with established guidelines. The Joint Commission is among the organizations which challenge providers to improve quality of care. Through accreditation, this organization offers incentives to the providers. An accreditation is a symbol of excellence that enhances the competiveness of a healthcare institution. If they are to earn the accreditation that the Joint Commission issues, providers need to follow the steps that the commission outlines. They should also be wary of various risks that arise as institutions seek accreditation. It is also crucial for the providers to engage in self-assessments for continuous quality improvement.
References
Best Practices for Self-Assessment. (n.d). The National Center on Program Management and
Fiscal Operations. Retrieved June 8, 2018 from https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/best-practices-for-self-assessment.pdf
General Presurvey Policies. (2015). Joint Commission International. Retrieved June 8, 2018
From https://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/assets/3/7/01-General-Presurvey-Policies.pdf
Healy, J., & Dugdale, P. (2010). Patient safety first: responsive regulation in health care.
Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.
Rooney, A. L., & Ostenberg, P. R. (1999 ). Licensure, accreditation, and certification:
Approaches to health services quality. USAID. Retrieved June 8, 2018 from
https://www.usaidassist.org/sites/assist/files/accredmon.pdf
Simplifying the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Process. (n.d).
Joint Commission. Retrieved June 8, 2018 from https://www.successfactors.com/en_us/lp/articles/joint-commission-compliance.html
