It is important to note that healthcare accreditation is critical in ensuring that the key standards are upheld by healthcare organizations in order to guarantee a high degree of quality of care. The accreditation process essentially involves evaluating and verifying the validity of a healthcare organization in accordance with the accreditors’ benchmarks. The given analysis will focus on the Joint Commission and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). It will additionally analyze the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) and the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF).
In the case of CARF, the organization was originally created to develop standards. The Association of Rehabilitation Centers (ARC) and the National Association of Sheltered Workshops and Homebound Programs (NASWHP) merged and formed CARF in 1969 (CARF, 2022). Now, it evolved to “promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services” (CARF, 2022, para. 1). CARF operates in seven program areas such as vision rehabilitation services, opioid treatment programs, medical rehabilitation, employment and community services, child and youth services, behavioral health, aging services, and continuing care retirement communities (CARF, 2022). For AAAHC, its original purpose was to advance patient care through accreditation. AAAHC was created by six different founding member organizations in 1979 (AAAHC, 2022). Its purpose is to advocate “for the provision of high-quality health care through the development and adoption of nationally recognized standards” (AAAHC, 2022, para. 2). AAAHC operates within the 1,095-day accreditation cycle through a commitment to high quality and safety. Its operations are recognized by various third-party members, associations, agencies, and insurance companies.
In the case of ACHC, it originated as a home care aid service accreditor. The organization was founded in 1986, and the current purpose is “to ensure a voice for providers” (ACHC, 2022, para. 1). ACHC operates by focusing on healthcare providers on three levels, which include individual, community, and international settings. The organization states that they “remain committed to providers, customer service, and quality patient care” (ACHC, 2022, para. 2). When it comes to the AAAASF was established in 1980, and its purpose was to “standardize and improve the quality of health care in outpatient facilities” (AAAASF, 2022, para. 1). The current objective is unchanged, but the scale has expanded since its inception. AAAASF operates by setting the ‘Gold Standard in Accreditation’ through leadership, support, and experience (AAAASF, 2022). For all four organizations, the requirements for each agency are publicly reported on the official website’s manuals or the website itself. Every accreditor has a public reporting of metrics because the process is important to ensure transparency and openness.
In conclusion, the assessment and analysis of CARF, AAAHC, ACHC, and AAAASF revealed that each has its own unique historical origin. Most of them were founded as a merger of several small organizations with a narrow and precise purpose. However, their subsequent growth expanded their objectives and goals to an international scale. It is important to note the fact that all four accreditation bodies have publicly available standards on their platforms to promote transparency of their operations. Despite becoming such large agencies, they still are able to function on community and even individual levels in order to further enhance the quality of care.
References
AAAASF. (2022). Who we are.
AAAHC. (2022). About us.
ACHC. (2022). About ACHC: A voice for healthcare providers.
CARF. (2022). About CARF.