EXPERT GUIDANCE
Renal Dialysis Accreditation
Driving teamwork and improvement.
I AM:
Partnering for quality
Renal dialysis requires teamwork. Clinical practitioners, caregivers, and family join forces to help recipients remember appointments, stay on top of medication schedules, prepare meals, and monitor vascular access. The patient is the most vital contributor, because without patient resolve, this lifesaving therapy simply isn’t possible.
Whether providing dialysis in the home or in-center, your organization is dedicated to providing quality care. Could your team benefit from an equally dedicated partner, but one focused on your education and growth? That’s where we come in.
Welcome
Whether you provide in-center dialysis or home dialysis, patient safety and the delivery of high-quality care are your primary concerns. The ACHC Renal Dialysis Program supports these goals through an educational approach that emphasizes standards compliance and performance improvement.
I have worked in the dialysis industry for 35 years and am driven by a commitment to quality patient care. As a dialysis nurse, my focus has been on educating both patients and providers. Now, as an accreditation professional, I am proud to lead a team of experts who bring both clinical expertise and a passion for teaching—a combination unmatched in our field.
The ACHC Renal Dialysis Program is designed to support all dialysis care settings. Our deep understanding of the diverse organizational structures within the industry makes ACHC the ideal partner for organizations looking to grow, improve, and excel.
Teresa Hoosier, RN, CDN
Associate Program Director
The ACHC approach: Surrounding you with education
ACHC surrounds you with accessible, responsive resources to fit your needs.



ACHC Clinical Staff provides resources for standards interpretation and problem solving.
Our Regulatory Team conducts research and shares knowledge about federal and state requirements.


The ACHC process: Steps to achieving accreditation
Expect total support.
- Get Started
- Presurvey
- Survey
- Post-Survey
- Decision
- All
Connect with our Team
We can help you get started.
Information Form
Register to access the ACHC customer portal.
Application
Complete your accreditation application and submit deposit.
Verification / Scheduling
Your Account Advisor verifies application completion and advances to Scheduling.
Opening Conference
Surveyor introductions and finalized survey agenda.
Onsite Survey
Surveyor observations, interviews, and document review with ongoing Q&A.
Closing Conference
Surveyor general observations and findings.
Final Survey Report
Provided within 10 business days of the last day of survey.
Plan of Correction
Submit Plans of Correction (PoC) within 30 days of the final survey report.
ACHC Reviews PoC
- PoC accepted or revised (as needed)
- Final version submitted to the ACHC Review Committee for consideration.
Accreditation Decision
Letter sent within five business days of Review Committee decision.
Connect with our Team
We can help you get started
Information Form
Register to access to ACHC customer portal.
Application
Complete ACHC accreditation application and submit deposit.
Verification / Scheduling
Your Account Advisor confirms that your application is complete and advances it to Scheduling.
Opening Conference
Surveyor introductions finalized survey agenda.
On-site Survey
Register to access to ACHC customer portal.
Closing Conference
General observations and an overview of preliminary findings.
Final Survey Report
Provided within 10 business days of the last day of survey.
Plan of Correction
You submit Plans of Correction (PoC) within 10 days of the final survey report.
ACHC Processes Plan of Correction.
- ACHC reviews PoC
- Makes revisions (as needed).
- Final PoC submitted to the ACHC Review Committee for an accreditation decision.
Accreditation Decision
Decision letter sent within five business days of Review Committee decision.
Renal Dialysis Accreditation Services and Distinctions
Services
ACHC Standards—the requirements you must meet to achieve ACHC Renal Dialysis Accreditation—are designed to be relevant to the focus of your business model. ACHC will work in partnership with you to build a customized accreditation solution based on your needs. View available services and distinctions below.
In-Center Dialysis facilities are entities that provide outpatient maintenance dialysis service in an in-center/facility setting for patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). ACHC’s Accreditation Standards were developed specifically for Medicare Certified facilities performing in-center care. Our standards assist providers with the knowledge to succeed in meeting the Medicare Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) and equip your facility with the opportunity to better provide safe, compliant, and quality patient care.
Home Dialysis Support entities are those that provide home dialysis training and support services for patients being treated for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), as well as training and support services to their care partner. ACHC’s Accreditation Standards were developed specifically for Medicare Certified home dialysis training and support programs. Our standards assist providers with the knowledge to succeed in meeting the Medicare Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) and equip your home-based program with the opportunity to better provide safe, compliant, and quality patient care.
Distinctions
Distinctions offer additional recognition for providers that offer specialties that go above and beyond basic accreditation requirements. These options must be earned in conjunction with (or after being awarded) Renal Dialysis Accreditation by ACHC.
This additional recognition focuses on the provision of care to clients/patients with acute or chronic conditions, using telehealth technology that allows monitoring in the clinical or home environment. This technology creates disease management empowerment and independence, improved access to care, increased collaboration among healthcare providers, and improved client/patient outcomes. Standards were based on telehealth clinical guidelines of the American Telemedicine Association.
Long-Term Care Dialysis Certification
ACHC Long-Term Care Dialysis Certification recognizes excellence in providing long-term care dialysis services. It offers independent third-party validation of healthcare quality and operational performance by evaluating processes, policies, and evidence-based metrics. Certification is available for any end-stage renal disease (ESRD) provider that delivers home dialysis treatment/services to individuals residing within a long-term care facility (SNF/NF). To apply for certification, home dialysis providers must already be Medicare-certified or applying for initial Medicare certification through ACHC Renal Dialysis Accreditation.
Certification standards are designed to promote an elevated care model that delivers optimal patient safety and enhances the continuum of care and collaboration between the dialysis facility and the long-term care facility (SNF/NF). ACHC Long-Term Care Dialysis Certification confirms compliance with standards of care, safety protocols, and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Ready to get started?
ACHC offers a fast-track option.
A delay in receiving your Medicare initial or recertification survey can cost you time — and money. Our simplified process helps renal dialysis facilities save valuable time and keep business plans moving forward.
Learn how to streamline your survey process with ACHC.
ACHC advocates for safe practices.
ACHC is a proud member of the Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition, a partnership of organizations and people focused on the prevention of bloodstream infections in dialysis patients. We support the Coalition’s emphasis on resources, training, and education for direct care providers, and we encourage your organization to use the CDC’s Core Interventions audit tools and checklists.
Get more insight into ACHC resources and standards by subscribing to our Did You Know? newsletter. If you have questions, don’t forget to visit our FAQs.
Recent Articles
ACHC Resources
To get you to the most frequently needed information, choose a link below.
Regulatory Updates
Publications
Education
Vendor Partners
External Resources
DO NOT DELETE
National Resources
ANNA American Nephrology Nurses Association | American Nephrology Nurses Association
American Society of Nephrology
CDC’s Weekly Mortality & Morbidity Weekly Report
CDC’s Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
EQRS – The End Stage Renal Disease Quality Reporting System
International Society for Hemodialysis (ISHD) “Home Dialysis Toolkit”
National Forum of ESRD Networks
National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)