Licensing and Accreditation - Assignment Example

Licensing and Accreditation This paper aims to discuss the licensing and accreditation requirements of a long-term care health care service in Phoenix, Arizona. It focuses on the facility license and administrator's license to operate in the state. The essay also highlights the organization offering accreditation for long-term health care services in Phoenix and elsewhere in United States and finally, discusses the advantages offered by an accreditation program, especially in health care services. Introduction: The long-term health service facility in Arizona is targeted for elderly people who require constant care and attention from health practitioners, nurses, and others. To set up and operate such a nursing facility, however, requires health practitioners to fulfill certain obligations. According to the Federal standards, a facility refers to a 'skilled nursing facility (SNF) or nursing facility (NF)' (Title 42-Public Health). Thus, long-term health facilities are defined, approved by, and maintained according to state as well as federal standards set for this purpose. Besides the two aforementioned authorities, there are other voluntary organizations which are devoted to accreditation and licensing purposes such as the Joint Commission. State and Federal Licensing Requirements: The Arizona state as well as Federal government embodies certain rules and regulations with respect to health care provisions. Such provisions include licensing requirements of long-term health care services too. The Arizona state rules are contained in the Arizona State Statutes, which includes all the rules concerning different facilities in the state. The law concerning the 'certification, licensure, and monitoring of long-term care facilities, facilities and services' is contained in title 36-409, whose requirements can be summarized in the following points: The Department of Health Services will perform all the essential functions regarding licensing and certification and take care to conform and implement concerned federally approved standards for this health service facility; The nursing care hospices and institutions will have to maintain financial records which they have to show to the Arizona health care cost containment system administration (Arizona State Legislature). The department further holds the right to issue quality ratings too, which help in determining whether the long-term health care facility provides quality service or not. It does so according to the results obtained out of a licensure survey. Further, the licensure granted to a nursing facility depends much on the quality rating it receives (Arizona State Legislature). However in all cases, the state law prescribes that no nursing institute shall hold a license for more than three years. The initial license application for any long-term healthcare service facility shall further require the applicant to submit the following: The application form of the Department which would include the address and other contact details of the health care institution; Tax ID number; The class or subclass as listed in R9-10-102; Owner Information; The details and particulars of governing authority; The details of the chief administrative officer; and others which vary according to the details of the plot and related documents (Arizona Department of Health Services). The Federal government details the requirements for states and long term care facilities in its PART 483 and subpart B (Title 42-Public Health). It requires healthcare facilities in states to meet certain requirements to be considered as long-term facilities such as Medicaid and Medicare. Some requirements such as the facility having a transfer agreement with certain hospital are essential for a facility to gain recognition as a long-term healthcare facility. besides the requirements are based upon other factors such as resident rights, quality of care, quality of life provided, nursing services, physician services, dietary services, and others (Title 42-Public Health). Accreditation Organization: Its Requirements: Accreditation refers to a recognition and distinction awarded by a recognized accreditation body to a healthcare facility. Such a distinction can only be awarded when the healthcare facility succeeds in achieving the standards set by the accreditation body. The main aim of accreditation is the maintenance of high standards and quality care and service in different types of healthcare facilities, ranging from a hospital to a long-term healthcare service facility. The Arizona Department of Health Services 'licenses and monitors health and child care facilities and providers throughout Arizona' (Arizona Department of Health Services). It conducts inspections for licensing, surveys on-site, and even performs investigations on complaint. Through regular checks, it ensures a high standard of performance, safety, and care for the operation of healthcare facilities and their maintenance (Arizona Department of Health Services). Additionally, there are certain voluntary organizations such as The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) which accredits healthcare systems, home cares, long-term healthcare facility, hospitals, and other facilities throughout the nation. Set since 1951, the aforementioned accrediting commission is claimed as a prominent and trustworthy accrediting body. Providing accrediting services, it helps in maintaining and monitoring the standards of long-term and other healthcare facilities. It sets rigorous accrediting requirements for any service seeking accreditation. To even maintain accreditation, it has to undergo the surveys by the organization's team once in at least three years (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations). The importance and significance of accreditation can hardly be undermined. It is mainly desired by healthcare facilities because of the following reasons: It helps in assisting facilities in improving their health care; It boosts up the confidence of the community; It helps in providing an education tool for staff; It enhances the recruitment of medical staff to a great extent; It helps in fulfilling certain state regulations regarding license too (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations). Conclusion: An analysis of the essay reveals that the long-term healthcare service facility system exists for the elderly who require regular and constant attention from the health practitioners. To set up such a healthcare facility requires meeting and complying with certain state as well as federal requirements. The rules and regulations relating to obtaining licensure, and accreditation can be provided by the Department of Health Services of Arizona, which further keeps in mind the federal rules and regulations. However, in addition, there are other voluntary, national, and reputed organizations which help in accrediting services too, such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization. Licensure and Accreditation are important for setting up a long-term healthcare facility service and maintaining a high standard of healthcare service and safety, which is indeed required for a responsible and quality healthcare service in our country. References: Arizona State Legislature. '36-409. Certification, licensure and monitoring of long-term care facilities, facilities and services'. Retrieved August 16, 2006, from http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.aspinDoc=/ars/36/00409.htm&Title=36&DocType=ARS Arizona State Legislature. '36-425.02. Nursing care institutions; quality rating; issuance of license'. Retrieved August 16, 2006, from http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.aspinDoc=/ars/36/00425-02.htm&Title=36&DocType=ARS 'Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations'. Quality Link. Retrieved August 16, 2006, from http://www.qmsonline.com/jcaho.htm Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Senior Outlook.com. Retrieved August 16, 2006, from http://www.senioroutlook.com/glossary.asp Title 42-Public Health. 'Chapter IV-Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services'. Retrieved August 16, 2006, from http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgiTITLE=42&PART=483&SECTION=5&YEAR=2001&TYPE=TEXT Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Licensing Services. 'Office of Long-Term Care Licensing'. Retrieved August 16, 2006, from http://www.azdhs.gov/als/ltc/index.htm Read More