Telehealth and remote patient monitoring services are becoming more prominent throughout the world. However, as more health care providers aim to deliver assistance through this medium, it is important to maintain quality, safety and effectiveness. The right accreditation or certification is a great benchmark that establishes what a telehealth service should look like.
What Is the Best Type of Accreditation for a Telehealth Provider?
The best type of accreditation is one that matches your service. While many bodies can provide a wide array of programs, only a select few actually apply to telehealth. It’s also worth looking into other telehealth specializations. For instance, if you want to give clients remote patient monitoring, it’s ideal to find a program matching that.
Other factors to look at are the accreditation standards, processes and costs. Each certification body will likely have its own focus and programs. Smaller telehealth companies may focus on only getting one form of accreditation rather than striving for multiple ones.
Accreditors for Telehealth Providers
Telehealth and the standard of care within it are still constantly developing, so it’s highly likely that there will be more specialty-specific accreditation bodies in the future. Right now, here are several accreditors providers can look to.
1. URAC
| Focus: | Quality and efficiency in health care services |
| Applicable Accreditation: | URAC Telehealth Accreditation Program, URAC Remote Patient Monitoring Accreditation, URAC Telehealth Support Services Certification |
URAC — which stands for Utilization Review Accreditation Commission — has been providing a collaborative and flexible accreditation process since 1990. Gaining their stamp of approval is an achievement some of the best in the industry have under their belt, from WebMD Health Services to CVS Pharmacy.
There are a variety of telehealth and telemedicine accreditation programs in play. The URAC Telehealth Accreditation Program is one of the more general certification programs that are applicable to remote health providers. They even provide a roadmap for ongoing improvement that can assist with streamlining processes and systems.
2. NCQA
| Focus: |
health care quality and performance |
| Applicable Accreditation: | NCQA’s Virtual Care Accreditation |
NCQA — short for the National Committee for Quality Assurance — is a very science-centered accreditation body. The independent nonprofit has been working since 1990 to identify and understand what can help health care organizations run better, from health plans to care recommendations.
The NCQA’s Virtual Care Accreditation is the most applicable for telehealth providers. It holds a variety of subprograms, from Patient-Centered Medical Homes to Patient-Centered Specialty Practice. Virtual Primary and Urgent Care Accreditation is also available.
3. The Joint Commission
| Focus: | Quality and safety within the organization |
| Applicable Accreditation: | Telehealth Accreditation Program |
The Joint Commission is a global expert when it comes to the highest standards of health care quality and patient safety. It has reviewed over 24,000 organizations, advocating for continuous improvement and resilient health care. It recently added the Telehealth Accreditation Program to empower organizations providing remote care and treatment.
4. ACHC
| Focus: | Meeting and exceeding standards of care |
| Applicable Accreditation: | ACHC Telehealth Certification |
ACHC — also known as Accreditation Commission for Health Care — started as a local business of home care leaders and providers. It slowly grew into one of the most renowned accrediting bodies in the United States. Getting the ACHC Telehealth Certification can validate your health care services in the future.
5. AHA
| Focus: | Standardized level of care across the industry |
| Applicable Accreditation: | AHA Center for Telehealth Certificate Program |
AHA — short for the American Hospital Association — was founded in 1898 and is formed by numerous health care systems and professionals. The long-standing organization recognizes changes and developments in patient care. The rise of relehealth across numerous American communities inspired the AHA Center for Telehealth Certificate Program.
Achieve Telehealth Accreditation
The best type of accreditation for a telehealth provider matches your service and prowess. Understand the standards within the community and aim to check all the marks. You can also look to the future and try to exceed those expectations, ensuring all patients are cared for, even from afar.
