CAHSAH
California Association For Health Services at Home
www.cahsah.org

There exists in almost every state of the Union a not for profit trade association which promotes home health care agencies within its borders. These organizations operate for the benefit of their members in the home health care industry to include agencies that have are Medicare providers ( and therefore have obtained accreditation ) and those that operate as private duty providers, private pay providers or provided non -skilled services such as Personal Assistance Services (PAS).

The Trade Associations also have as their purpose the betterment of policies and procedures as they pertain to Home healthcare and they act, together with the National Association for Home Care (NAHC) as a powerful lobbying group for the home health care industry. While these Association have no direct relationship with Accrediting Bodies such as CHAP, JACHO or ACHC, The work that they do helps prepare home health agencies to meet the standards that these Accreditation bodies have.

Membership in the Trade Associations is not limited to home health care agencies. Companies that serve the home health care agency such as Home health agency software providers, publishers of Manuals, Policies and Procedures ,Home Healthcare policies, CHAP Self Studies and ACHC Performance Evaluation Reviews (PER) and Home Health Agency Startup consultants which prepare Home Health Agency Start ups and existing Home Health Agencies for Medicare Accreditation through CHAP, ACHC and JACHO.
The highest growth in the establishment of Home health agencies in the United States over the past several years has occurred in the following states: Texas, Florida, California, and Ohio. In addition growth trends have recently been high in Illinois, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Arizona.

Here are several examples of Summaries of the mission statements for these organizations are included below:
The mission of the Texas Association for Home Care (TAHC) as a non-profit association is to promote quality and economic viability of licensed providers of home and community support services in Texas.

TAHC is over 1,200 members strong and speaks with a strong, unified voice for the interests of home care throughout the state of Texas. Its mission joins together home care member organizations and individuals in a shared commitment to every citizen in need of quality, affordable home care services.

As a nonprofit association, TAHC has championed the collective interests of Texas home care agencies, organizations, service and supply companies, and individual professionals since its founding in 1969. TAHC headquarters, located in Austin, Texas, gives home care providers a strategic pathway to key state lawmakers and health care regulators.

By organizing the energies of its Board of Directors, committees, members, and staff, TAHC channels its efforts into these major areas of activity: advocacy and representation, communications, education, and public information.

The California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) is the leading statewide home care association in the nation and the voice of home care for the western United States.

CAHSAH represents more than 556 members and 850 offices that are direct providers of health and supportive services and products in the home.

Our provider members represent Medicare-certified home health agencies, licensed home health agencies, hospices, private duty organizations, home medical equipment providers, home infusion pharmacy providers and interdisciplinary professional services.

To remain competitive, organizations must often revisit their agency mission, to improve the quality of services and maintain their fiscal viability.

To do this effetely, we suggest you consider the benefits of accreditation for your agency.

There are several organizations that offer accreditation to Home health care agencies.
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), Oakbrook Terrace, Ill, is the largest and oldest. It has been in business for more than 50 years and is known for hospital accreditation. They have been in business for 15 years.
It is followed in age by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), New York, The oldest home care accrediting body is the Community Health Accreditation Program, Inc. (CHAP). It was established as a joint venture between the American Public Health Association and the National League for Nursing (NLN). The founders decided that it would function as part of the NLN. CHAP began accrediting home health agencies in 1965 and has continued to do so since then. In 1987, it became a subsidiary of NLN, separately incorporated with the new CHAP name. Over time, the NLN and CHAP organizations evolved to have differing missions and goals. In consequence of their changing needs, in 2001 CHAP became a totally separate nonprofit corporation.
Finally, the Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc (ACHC), Raleigh, NC, was formed in '86.

Accreditation will provide your Agency with more effective and efficient operations. Focusing on overcoming the requirements of new state regulations (Senate Bill 1986), (House Bill 1487) and preparing for future state surveys.

Successful accreditation can reap many benefits for your Agency.

The following is a list of typical results of companies becoming accredited:

Credibility with government and third-party payers, ability to Develop your true Competitive Edge, better business plan improved policies, more effective and efficient operations, stronger risk management strategies, reduction in incidents, enhanced team awareness, marketing edge, professional self-respect, accreditation allows you to raise your standards of excellence and be a health care leader in your community, accredited to work with all HMO Providers, accredited to work with all hospitals and avoid the possible changes in FUTURE state regulations

Provision of as per Accreditation Standards (CHAP, JCAHO or ACHC) , all customized for your agency:

• Outcome Based Quality Improvement Manuals
• Infection Control Manuals
• Disaster Preparedness Manuals
• Safety Manuals
• Patient Care/Agency Documents and Forms
• Advanced Directives
• Patient Admission Packet
• Home Health Aide In-services
• Home Health Agency Logs

Quality assurance audit as per Accreditation Standards of (CHAP, JCAHO or ACHC)

• Clinical records (when available)
• Instruction in documentation requirements
• Setting of agency as well as individualized measurable goals.

Implementation, as per Accreditation Standards (CHAP, JCAHO or ACHC) of :

• Agency Disclosure/Conflict of Interest statements
• Board of Directors meetings
• Professional Advisory Committee meetings
• Outcome Based Quality Improvement (OBQI)
• Clinical Record Review
• Ethics, Safety, and Budget meetings as needed.

Ongoing support - Telephone consultations

• Before the Site Visit.
• During the Site Visit
• After the Site Visit
• Other guidance as appropriate.

We will teach you

• Accreditation is an ongoing process that must be the focus of your agency on a continual basis in order for you to achieve and retain Accreditation. We will prepare you for and help set up your monthly review of quality improvement indicators, twice yearly meetings of the Professional Advisory Committee, quarterly meetings of the Clinical Record Review and OBQI Committees and yearly meetings of the Board of Directors. We will teach you how to prepare your minutes for these meetings, strategic plan, annual evaluation, budgets, etc.

21ST Century Health Care ACCREDITATION Consultants
www.1staccreditation.com

We invite you to explore our Web site ( www.1staccreditation.com ) to learn more about our accreditation services and success. For more information about how we can help your health care organization earn accreditation from the Community Health Accreditation Company (CHAP), the Joint Commission (JCAHO), Accreditation Commission for Health Care Inc, (ACHC), Medicare or other federal or state regulatory agency, please call us toll-free at 1-888-850-6932 We are based in Southwest Florida and Sugarland, Texas and can assist health care organizations throughout the United States with the accreditation process