Both Becky Desaulniers and Susan Murtha have been registered nurses for over 30 years and have extensive experience working in home health. They are currently clinical review specialists for the ACHC Home Health Accreditation Program. Posted: December 23,...
Home Health
Documentation Gaps Dominate Home Health Survey Deficiencies
By: Susan Mills, RN, Senior Program Director Susan Mills worked more than three decades as a registered nurse serving home health and hospice organizations. In her current role at ACHC, she guides Home Health, Hospice, and Home Infusion Therapy Accreditation. She also...
Accreditation Theater: The Illusion of Rigor in Healthcare Accreditation
By: ACHC Posted: September 11, 2025In the post-9/11 era, the term "Security Theater" emerged to describe over-the-top yet ineffective airport security procedures designed more to make travelers feel safe than to actually increase safety. Today, healthcare...
Update to ACHC Standards
Posted: August 29, 2025ACHC Standards for 2025 have been reviewed and minor changes made to reflect the goals of safe, high-quality, person-centered care that drive accreditation.Standards that previously referenced “cultural diversity” have been updated to...
The Comprehensive Assessment in Home Health
By: Becky Tolson, RN, BS Manager, Survey Operations Posted: August 5, 2025A comprehensive assessment is a critical first step in developing an individualized plan of care for home health patients. The Medicare Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and ACHC Standards...
Infection Control Breaches in Home Health
By: Becky Tolson, RN, BS Manager, Survey Operations Posted: June 20, 2025Infection control is a crucial area of focus during home health accreditation surveys. Surveyors assess written policies and procedures and shadow clinicians on patient home visits to observe...
Home Health Plan of Care: A Continuous, Collaborative Approach to Patient-Centered Services
By: Lisa Meadows, MSW, Senior Manager, Clinical Operations Posted: April 2, 2025A well-structured plan of care is the foundation of quality home health care, ensuring that patients receive individualized care that meets their needs. Developing an effective plan of...
Why Your Accreditation End Date Matters
Why Your Accreditation End Date MattersAchieving accreditation is regarded as one of the key benchmarks for measuring the quality of an organization. Once initial accreditation is achieved, it is not permanent and must be maintained and renewed to ensure continued...
Why It Matters to Maintain Personnel Records
Maintain Personnel Records with Our Free Checklist Maintaining personnel records for staff members is required to achieve ACHC Accreditation and meet applicable state and federal regulations. Your organization must keep records, and keep them up to date, for all...
Survey Ready? New Checklist Simplifies Record Preparation
Survey Ready? New Checklist Simplifies Record Preparation Posted: April 10, 2024Required Client/Patient RecordsPatient records are a vital part of the accreditation survey process. When a Surveyor arrives for your on-site survey, your home health, hospice,...