Certification, Accreditation, and Licensure: Keys to Quality Health Care - Essay Sample

Introduction

In health care settings, certification, accreditation, and licensure are critical aspects that determine the knowledge and skills in the field. In particular, certification is the credentials that a hospital seeking to prove its proficiency in particular specialties or procedures. For the hospital to be certified, it has to prove that it has the ability to offer specialized services in health care settings. Accreditation is the identification by third-party non-governmental agencies after a thorough assessment that it can provide particular services within the stated standards (Pelletier, n.d.). The approach examines whether a hospital meets particular standards in service delivery. On the other hand, licensure is a formal recognition by the authority that a hospital is capable of providing services in a particular area. Licensure is done to ensure a hospital is focused on maintaining public safety and improve the wellbeing of customers (Myers, 2011).

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Accreditation ensures health care organizations follow particular internal standards and principles to promote quality services. Through the approach, accreditation ensures health care meet and operates within the regulations and standards set by the authority (Wrzesniewski, 2017). In the process, accrediting bodies are mandated to verify the scope of health care services, which ensures that a hospital has the capability to provide services within the standards (Pelletier, n.d.). As such, the accrediting bodies are mandated to provide assessment, testing, and calibration services on various departments to ensure a health center has the ability to provide particular services.

In the health care center, the laboratory is a crucial department that assists in the identification of disease by testing samples. The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) is mandated to evaluate laboratory testing and standards before being accredited. CLIA approves that a laboratory is capable of performing particular services on human samples to assist in the diagnosis, prevention, and control of the disease (Pelletier, n.d.). In collaboration with other organizations such as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CLIA assist in the certification of a laboratory (Myers, 2011). The approach ensures laboratories have the capability to provide testing without interfering with human health.

Accrediting Bodies

The Joint Commission is an America-based body that provides health accreditation across the world. The organization provides a three-year accreditation cycle in hospital and two years in laboratories to ensure they operate within the required standards (Wrzesniewski, 2017). As such, the organization is driven to ensure health care centers observe particular standards. Through the approach, the Joint Commission ensures continuous improvement of health care services by observing the safety, which assists the maintenance of quality and value (Pelletier, n.d.). In case of a need, the organization cites specifically what health care center is supposed to do to improve its standards of service delivery. As a way of improving the services of patients, the Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert reviews health care centers’ activities in response to sentinel events (Myers, 2011). As such, the organization ensures health care centers define a ‘sentinel event’ based on their purpose and understanding (Wrzesniewski, 2017). The approach assists in the identification and management of these events, thus maintaining the safety of people.

Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program is mandated to review hospital programs, clinical laboratories, and ambulatory surgical centers, which form the base for accreditation (Chittiprol, 2018). The kind of facilities and programs a health care center undertakes determine its accreditation (Pelletier, n.d.). For a particular department to be accredited, it has to prove its ability to operate within particular standards. The accreditation assists in sustaining patients’ safety, thus improving the standards of care services. In health care, facilities and programs are crucial aspects that impact the nature of service delivery (Chittiprol, 2018). Therefore, ensuring that hospital deploys the required facilities form the base for the attainment of quality services. Additionally, the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program participates in the accreditation of mental health and physical rehabilitation facilities to ensure they can provide quality services.

Det Norske Veritas Healthcare reviews hospital performance to safeguard life, property, and environment, thus creating a good environment for service delivery (Operating Room Manager, n.d.). As such, the organization reviews innovation hospitals are deploying to ensure they comply with the standard of health care. In all fields, innovation and technology are crucial aspects deploy to improve the standard and quality of service delivery (Operating Room Manager, n.d.). In case of an innovation, the organization reviews whether hospitals are following the manufacturers' guidelines to ensure full benefit from the technology. Additionally, Det Norske Veritas Healthcare monitors hospital management performance to determine their commitment to the quality and safety of a patient. The approach ensures health care maintains the value, thus improving quality health care.

In comparison, the three accrediting bodies aim at improving the quality of health care by reviewing the kind of services provided in the health care center. Through the approach, the accrediting bodies ensure hospitals maintain the safety and value of patients. Despite the similarity, there are several differences that revolve within the area of operations. Joint Commission mostly focuses on reviewing the kind of services hospital offers to determine their standards (Wrzesniewski, 2017). On the other hand, the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program concentrates on reviewing the kind of materials and facilities health care center deploys in promoting the standards and safety of patients. On the contrary, Det Norske Veritas Healthcare mostly focuses on how health care management deploys innovation in the improvement of health care delivery (Operating Room Manager, n.d.).

References

Chittiprol, S. (2018). Top laboratory deficiencies. Across accreditation agencies. CLN. 32-42. Myers, S. (2011). Patient safety and hospital accreditation: A model for ensuring success. Springer Publishing Company. 1-63.

Operating Room Manager (n.d.). DNV offers a new accreditation choice. Accreditation Standards. 12-15.

Pelletier, M. (n.d.). Accreditation guide for hospitals. The Join Commission. 1-29

Wrzesniewski, C. E. (2017). Quality and safety through compliance with the Joint Commission requirements. California Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 1-70.