Here’s what ACHC looks for in its standards
Accreditation resource manuals of the Accreditation Commission for Home Care (ACHC) are discipline-specific according to the six program categories. Each program will contain the same core standards according to the following topics:
• organization and administration;
• program/service management;
• fiscal management;
• client care coordination;
• quality improvement;
• infectious and safety control.
To get an idea of what will be assessed in the accreditation process, take a look at the following portion of the Multi-Service Accreditation Resource Manual:
Standard 25, Criterion A: Both initial assessments and periodic reassessment document the domains of physical health, mental, environmental, economic, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living.
Interpretation: All seven components must be included in each assessment or reassessment, except for clients receiving only housekeeping services. In those cases, the factors that relate to ensuring client safety and efficient delivery of the services requested are required.
• The physical health component includes identification of health problems, review of medications, special dietary requirements, and other needed information that could affect the level of services required to meet the client’s needs.
• The mental component includes an evaluation of the client’s orientation, memory, reasoning, and judgment.
• The social component includes identification of the responsible party, other household members, an emergency contact, and the client’s involvement with social activities, and other community resources.
• The environmental component includes identification of safety or health hazards; architectural barriers; and presence of heat, water, plumbing, refrigeration, and cooking facilities.
• The economic component includes a review of the financial resources available to pay for in-home care and other service needs.
• Activities of daily living include bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, transfer, and ambulation.
• Instrumental activities of daily living include use of the telephone, shopping, meal preparation, housework, money management, and ability to take medications.
ACHC prefers that organizations develop written assessment protocols that define specific assessment techniques, specify when outside consultation is needed, and provide detailed guidelines for factors to be considered in assessing each component. ACHC also prefers that organizations develop a process for multidisciplinary (team) assessments. This process would define team composition, the role of each team member in the assessment process, and the method for documenting findings and recommendations.
Evidence: Assessment/reassessment in client records.
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