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Accreditation Programs

Accreditation is not required for state licensure of hospice programs. Hospice programs that undertake the accreditation process have made a commitment to meet higher standards than those required for state licensure. When you consider hospice programs, be sure to ask if they are accredited.

JCAHO

Some hospice programs choose to seek accreditation from the Joint Commission, an independent not-for-profit organization that evaluates the quality of care for more than 17,000 health care organizations. A board that includes physicians, nurses, and consumers governs the Commission. In order to earn and maintain accreditation, the hospice program must submit to an extensive on-site evaluation at least once every three years. The evaluation covers many areas of patient care. Over 50 percent of the standards relate to patient safety.

CHAP

The Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) accredits hospice programs that are community-based (providing service in the patient's home or long-term care facility but not in a dedicated in-patient hospice program). Like the Joint Commission, CHAP evaluates these programs to determine whether they meet standards developed by health care professionals.