Articles
For information related to a specific standard, enter the standard number in the search bar below. If no result is returned, contact your account advisor for guidance.
Minimize Variability to Maximize IDG Meetings
The plan of care is a dynamic document that directs the services provided by the hospice to meet the goals of the patient and the patient’s family/caregiver. The plan of care requires an understanding of the patient’s and family/caregiver’s goals for hospice care.
Performance Goals and Indicators for the Hospital’s Physical Environment
ACHC Standards are structured to align with a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement framework. Within each chapter, standards identify required policies, the implementation of those policies, evaluation of the results, and communication of changes or corrective actions.
The Purpose and Value of Mock Patient Files
For a newly opened sleep lab, or one that has just begun offering a specific service, mock patient files provide a way for the ACHC surveyor to assess the organization’s preparedness and compliance with clinical, documentation, and regulatory standards.
Consumer Advertising and Compounded Medications
The increasing prevalence of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising that creates demand for ancillary or “off-label” uses of medications makes PCAB accreditation a crucial factor in upholding the integrity of compounding practices.
Avoiding Medical Record Errors in Office-Based Surgery Settings
Maintaining comprehensive medical records is essential to safe, high-quality care that meets accreditation standards and HIPAA requirements, and would serve as effective legal documentation, if needed.
Mastering Informed Consent
Questions posed during ACHCU’s monthly Coffee Chat live webinar often serve to reveal opportunities to extend education and develop additional resources for ACHC-accredited hospitals. In March 2025, the topic was medical record documentation.
Prepare for Sleep Standard Updates: Recording Sleep Studies using Video
On February 1, 2025, ACHC released revisions and updates to standards for Sleep Accreditation that become effective June 1, 2025. Most of these updates clarify existing standard requirements.
Home Health Plan of Care: A Continuous, Collaborative Approach to Patient-Centered Services
A well-structured plan of care is the foundation of quality home health care, ensuring that patients receive individualized care that meets their needs.
Excellence in Hospice Care: The Plan of Care
Individualized, holistic support is the foundation of quality hospice care and this depends on a well-structured and continuously updated plan of care. Hospice Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) Hospice Standards together guide hospice providers in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.
Bridging the Gap: Connecting Hospital Physical Environment and Life Safety Standards
From a facilities perspective, protecting patient and staff safety are the hospital’s biggest priority. To ensure this safety, all aspects of the facility must be constructed, arranged, and maintained to meet a range of regulations.