29 Sep AN INTRODUCTION TO HEALTHCARE QUALITY AND ACCREDITATION AGENCIES

Accreditation is important to a healthcare organization, as it signifies a high level of quality approval. As noted in Module 1 Background section, there are a number of healthcare accrediting agencies. These agencies vary in the level of standards, who they accredit, accreditation period, cost, etc. While some accrediting agencies are more well known than others, they all provide some sort of benefit to healthcare organizations.

Case Assignment

For this assignment, compare and contrast six different accrediting agencies from the listings in Module 1 Background. Select three agencies from the “Top 5” accrediting agency listing and three from the second list.

In the 2-page report, complete the following:

1. Introduction – In this section, explain the accreditation, its purpose, and importance in the healthcare field.
2. Compare and Contrast – Use the chart below to compare and contrast the six different accrediting agencies including the following information for each:
1. Identification information for each accrediting agency (i.e., for-profit vs. nonprofit, number of organizations accredited, year incepted, etc.).
2. Associated cost for accreditation – this varies on the type of accreditation.
3. Accreditation period – How long does the accreditation last before renewal.
4. Organizations they accredit
5. Accrediting agency programs (i.e., Case Management, HIPAA Privacy, Health Care Staffing Services, etc.)
6. Conclusion – In this section, summarize the information that you have compared and identify how quality and the perception of quality from a consumer perspective directly relates to accreditation.

Assignment Expectations

1. Conduct additional research to gather sufficient information to justify/support your report.
2. Limit your response to a maximum of 2 pages (title and reference page is not included in page number count).
3. Support your report with peer-reviewed articles, using at least 3 to 4 references. Use the following link for additional information on how to recognize peer-reviewed journals: http://www.angelo.edu/services/library/handouts/peerrev.php.
4. You may use the following source to assist in formatting your assignment: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
5. For additional information on reliability of sources, review the following source: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/webresources.
6. This assignment will be graded based on the content in the rubric.