What is Accreditation and How to Apply
Accreditation is a way to earn the public's trust by establishing a mark of excellence, thereby setting a home care organization a part from all others, and making it easy for consumers to recognize competent, accountable service when choosing a home care provider. It is about doing home care right.
The National Institute for Home Care Accreditation Inc. (NIHCA), Standards of Accreditation, provides a framework that has proven over time to enable organizations to become a recognized highly competent, reliable, safe, accountable, and professional care providers. The basis of this achievement is the NIHCA accreditation process that helps establish basic organizational benchmarks and responsible service delivery practices, which ultimately contribute to the consumer’s protection and strengthening of the provider’s credibility.
This high level of competency is achieved through a comprehensive self-analysis, along with the support, advice, and independent oversight provided by the accreditation process. This guidance and on-going monitoring approach encourages the organizations to maintain a high level of trust, competent care, and compliance with the Standards of Accreditation. By doing so, the organization continues to be recognized as a member of a select group of highly qualified accredited home care providers.
How to Apply for Accreditation?
To apply for NIHCA accreditation first review the following qualifications needed to become accredited:
1. Has the organization ever been denied accreditation, or had its accreditation revoked or been placed in a provisional status?
2. Has the organization ever been convicted, censured, sanctioned, or discharged by any law enforcement, regulatory, licensing or other government oversight body, or been the subject of any investigation or enforcement action conducted by any state or federal regulatory agency?
3. Has any current employee (licensed, certified or otherwise), owner or governing authority member, or a past employee or governing authority member ever been convicted, censured, sanctioned, or discharged by any law enforcement, regulatory, licensing or other government oversight body, or been the subject of any investigation or enforcement activity conducted by any state or federal regulatory agency?
4. The organization must provide direct home care services.
5. The organization must directly employ the Direct Care staff. (Organizations, which serve as a registry or only as a contractor for home care service employed and paid by others, are not eligible for accreditation)
6. The organization must be in operation for six (6) months and at least one (1) year at the completion of the accreditation process.
7. The organization must have directly served a minimum of five (5) cases, with three (3) currently active cases.
If you meet these prerequisites and would like to become accredited.
If you would like more informaiton about the NIHCA Standards of Accreditation
The non-refundable application fee for NIHCA Accreditation is $1,750, which includes the required organizational Self-Assessment Manual and excludes the $1,200 site-visitation by the peer reveiwer. Please note that if NIHCA does not receive the completed Self-Assessment within 12 months of the date issued to the organization, an additional non-refundable $500 re-application fee will be due before the accreditation process can proceed.
The National Institute for Home Care Accreditation Inc. (NIHCA), Standards of Accreditation, provides a framework that has proven over time to enable organizations to become a recognized highly competent, reliable, safe, accountable, and professional care providers. The basis of this achievement is the NIHCA accreditation process that helps establish basic organizational benchmarks and responsible service delivery practices, which ultimately contribute to the consumer’s protection and strengthening of the provider’s credibility.
This high level of competency is achieved through a comprehensive self-analysis, along with the support, advice, and independent oversight provided by the accreditation process. This guidance and on-going monitoring approach encourages the organizations to maintain a high level of trust, competent care, and compliance with the Standards of Accreditation. By doing so, the organization continues to be recognized as a member of a select group of highly qualified accredited home care providers.
How to Apply for Accreditation?
To apply for NIHCA accreditation first review the following qualifications needed to become accredited:
1. Has the organization ever been denied accreditation, or had its accreditation revoked or been placed in a provisional status?
2. Has the organization ever been convicted, censured, sanctioned, or discharged by any law enforcement, regulatory, licensing or other government oversight body, or been the subject of any investigation or enforcement action conducted by any state or federal regulatory agency?
3. Has any current employee (licensed, certified or otherwise), owner or governing authority member, or a past employee or governing authority member ever been convicted, censured, sanctioned, or discharged by any law enforcement, regulatory, licensing or other government oversight body, or been the subject of any investigation or enforcement activity conducted by any state or federal regulatory agency?
4. The organization must provide direct home care services.
5. The organization must directly employ the Direct Care staff. (Organizations, which serve as a registry or only as a contractor for home care service employed and paid by others, are not eligible for accreditation)
6. The organization must be in operation for six (6) months and at least one (1) year at the completion of the accreditation process.
7. The organization must have directly served a minimum of five (5) cases, with three (3) currently active cases.
If you meet these prerequisites and would like to become accredited.
If you would like more informaiton about the NIHCA Standards of Accreditation
The non-refundable application fee for NIHCA Accreditation is $1,750, which includes the required organizational Self-Assessment Manual and excludes the $1,200 site-visitation by the peer reveiwer. Please note that if NIHCA does not receive the completed Self-Assessment within 12 months of the date issued to the organization, an additional non-refundable $500 re-application fee will be due before the accreditation process can proceed.
Look to see if your organization needs to be accredited in New Jersey. Learn More.