How To Get Your Home Health Care Agency Accreditation, Process & Cost

As an entrepreneur, it is important to understand the benefits of home health care accreditation. This article will outline the process and cost of home health care agency accreditation.

 

Importance of Home Health Care Agency Accreditation

Home health care agencies provide essential services to patients in their own homes. These agencies are becoming more popular as the population ages and more people require home health care services.

Accreditation is a process by which home health care agencies are evaluated against a set of standards. This process ensures that home health care agencies provide high-quality care to their patients.

There are several organizations that offer home health care accreditation, but the two most common are the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) and The Joint Commission. These organizations play a crucial role in maintaining the standards and quality of care for those involved in managing home care business.

 

Home Health Care Accreditation Process

The first step in the home health care accreditation process is to choose an organization. The two most common organizations are the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) and The Joint Commission.

Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP Accreditation)

CHAP is a nonprofit organization that has been accrediting home health care agencies since 1965. To be accredited by CHAP, home health care agencies must meet rigorous standards in the following areas:

-Quality of care

-Patient rights

-Administrative policies and procedures

-Human resources

-Physical environment

To learn more about CHAP accreditation, visit the website at www.chapinc.org.

The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission is a nonprofit organization that accredits home health care agencies that meet its standards. To be accredited by the Joint Commission, home health care agencies must demonstrate compliance with standards in the following areas:

-Quality of care

-Patient rights

-Administrative policies and procedures

-Human resources

-Physical environment

To learn more about The Joint Commission, visit their website at www.jointcommission.org.

 

On-site Home Health Care Visit

Once you have chosen an organization, the next step in the home health care accreditation process is to schedule an on-site visit by reviewers within the accreditation program you’ve selected. During the visit, the team of reviewers will interview staff and patients, tour the facility, and review medical records. They will want to see that your home health care agency is providing high-quality care for your patients.

 

Interviews within Your Home Health Care Agency

One of the most important parts of the home health care accreditation process are the interviews that will take place during the review. The surveyors will interview your staff and patients to get their feedback on the quality of care they receive.

It is important to be prepared for the interview and to have a list of questions ready. Some questions you may want to ask include:

-How often do you see your home health care provider?

-Do you feel like your home health care provider is knowledgeable and skilled?

-Do you feel like your home health care provider treats you with respect?

-Do you feel like your home health care provider is available when you need them?

 

Home Health Care Agency Accreditation Costs

The cost of home health care accreditation varies depending on the organization you choose. CHAP accreditation costs $1,500 yearly in dues, $500 for the enrollment fee, and $995 for each day of the surveyors review. The size and location of your organization will also determine costs overall. 

The Joint Commission accreditation is based on the size of your organization and the patient volumes under your care on an annual basis. The accreditation costs average $12,000 with payments spread over three years. However, the accreditation must be renewed every three years, so the costs for this accreditation will be approximately $4,000 on a yearly, on-going basis. 

Start the accreditation process by visiting the websites of the organizations you are considering. Once you have selected an organization, you will need to fill out an application and pay the application or enrollment fee. Moving forward, you will enter the accreditation process and details will be offered for the full accreditation of your facility.

 

Conclusion

Home health care accreditation is a process by which home health care agencies are evaluated against a set of quality and performance standards. This process ensures that home health care agencies provide high-quality care to their patients. Accredited facilities can run their business operations with the comfort and confidence that their clients and families will trust them to provide the care needed.