Telehealth Certification

Telehealth is the provision of care to patients with acute or chronic conditions using telehealth technology to allow monitoring in the home environment and other remote locations.

Use of telehealth technology creates disease management empowerment and independence, improved access to care, increased collaboration among healthcare providers, and improved patient outcomes.

Telehealth may include remote patient monitoring (RPM), biometrics, video, talk, or education. ACHC Standards for Telehealth Certification are based on the American Telemedicine Association’s Home Telehealth Clinical Guidelines.

Telehealth and telemedicine are two different types of online healthcare services. Telemedicine refers specifically to online doctor visits, while telehealth also includes health-related education services like diabetes management or nutrition courses and health-related training.

Certification is a vital tool to optimize and strengthen your organization. ACHC Certification is a focused review and evaluation of a defined program within a healthcare organization as measured against recognized standards for specialty care.

Certification, like accreditation, requires a survey — an independent, third-party review of your organization. ACHC uses an educational, collaborative survey approach that helps drive performance improvement, operating efficiencies, and risk management strategies.

By achieving certification, you demonstrate your commitment to high standards for quality, safety, and consistency.

Telehealth services have expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic and are expected to remain an important part of the healthcare continuum.

ACHC Telehealth Certification establishes national standards to promote best practices for delivering the highest-quality digital healthcare services. Certification confirms the quality of your services — strengthening trust in your organization and assuring patients they are receiving the best care.

As telehealth adoption increases, payors are likely to require third-party validation, like certification, to distinguish quality of care and validate service delivery. Our standards were developed with the future in mind, keeping you ready to meet possible payor requirements.

Telehealth Certification does not require accreditation from ACHC or another accreditor. It is available for any healthcare individual or organization that delivers health-related services via electronic information and telecommunication technologies.

The Distinction in Telehealth requires ACHC Accreditation. To apply for the Distinction in Telehealth, you must be accredited or seeking accreditation in one of seven ACHC programs: Ambulatory Care, Behavioral Health, Home Health, Hospice, Palliative Care, Private Duty, and Renal Dialysis.

If you are already accredited by ACHC in any of these programs or are seeking accreditation in any of them, it is recommended that you apply for the Distinction in Telehealth. Please contact your Account Advisor for more information.

If you are accredited by ACHC under a different program or are not accredited and do not want to be accredited, you should apply for ACHC Telehealth Certification.

Both Telehealth Certification and the Distinction in Telehealth focus on the provision of health care via telehealth technology to promote best practices for optimal care, privacy, cybersecurity, and safety.

Standards were developed in collaboration with leading industry associations and experts and are based on the American Telemedicine Association’s Home Telehealth Clinical Guidelines.

Your goals are our goals. ACHC understands the trust placed in your organization for delivering reliable, first-rate care and services.

Like you, we focus on improving patient outcomes. With your needs in mind, we use a more collaborative, educational approach that helps you continuously enhance the quality of your services and improve operational efficiencies.

ACHC’s cost-effective, streamlined process is designed to help you quickly and easily achieve certification. Our dedicated staff is ready to assist you before, during, and after your survey. Educational resources also are available to support your team and further your success.

At ACHC, we are more than an accreditor. We focus on empowering you to meet your strategic goals — and build a lasting partnership along the way.

Organizations are welcome to contact ACHC and explore their options for recognition of telehealth services. ACHC staff is available to discuss the best solutions for your organization.

Call (855) 937-2242 or email customerservice@achc.org to learn more.