Accreditation Analysis

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In the healthcare field, organizations and medical professionals can obtain licenses to practice and also earn accreditation. Accreditation is usually a voluntary program that external peer reviewers that are trained in certain subjects evaluate a healthcare organization’s compliance and compare it to the standards that have already been established (Alkhenizan & Shaw, 2011). If an organization is accredited it represents that the agency is credible and reputable and it is dedicated to continuous compliance (ACHC, 2015). Accreditation is voluntary but it is so important that it is considered mandatory. The focus of an accreditation assessment is to make sure that the processes and outcomes are safe and effective. Accreditation has ongoing requirements…show more content…
If an organization is obtaining a license it is to provide a particular service to the public (Marberry, 2011). The goal of licensure is to make sure that the licensees keep a minimal level of competency required for public health, safety and welfare. To become licensed, the person has to meet eligibility requirements and pass an assessment that covers a range of knowledge and skills. The requirements are ongoing and must be met to maintain the license. Licenses are usually granted at the state level and licensing requirements vary from state to state. Professional associations do not grant licenses but can play a role in licensure activities. Licenses are used soley used to make sure that the individual has the basic knowledge for safe practice, nothing more whereas accreditation is used to make sure that organizations such as hospitals and physician clinics are evaluated and these programs testify to the organization’s achievement rather than just on guaranteeing safety like a license (Barnum,…show more content…
This Act was most recently revised in 2008. In 1975, some accrediting agencies wanted to improve the process of accreditation so NCA and the Federation of Regional Accrediting Commissions of Higher Education (FRACHE) merged to create a national organization called the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA). COPA provides a unified process or recognizing accrediting agencies through peer-reviewed evaluation. COPA was eventually replaced after challenges arose in the late 1980s and 1990s. The Council for Higher Education (CHEA) was created in 1996. Some of the accrediting agencies in the healthcare organization are the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the American Medical Accreditation Program (AMAP) and the American Accreditation Healthcare Commission/Utilization Review Accreditation

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