Persons entering addiction treatment facilities typically require expert care. Such individuals and their families want assurances that the entrusted establishments will meet their needs while abiding by all industry standards and regulations. Institutions bestowed with an honor known as accreditation meet these mandates far more than those lacking such certification.
Accreditation Overview
Accredited treatment centers meet standards set forth by independent third-party addiction treatment industry watchdog groups governing topics such as:
- Organizational policy
- Managerial guidelines
- Standards of practice
- Patient treatment
Receiving accreditation might also hinge on establishments meeting regulations set forth by their state’s licensing board.
Entities Granting Accreditation
Accreditation is granted by two major organizations: the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, which is commonly abbreviated as CARF, and the Joint Commission.
CARF
This non-profit agency evaluates and offers accreditation to 90 different treatment programs across the United States, Canada, and Europe. To date, CARF has bestowed more than 25,000 individual accreditations.
The Joint Commission
This largest accrediting body for establishments like hospitals and healthcare facilities has awarded in excess of 25,000 accreditations to addiction rehab facilities.
The Accreditation Process
Accreditation is a stringent process comprised of several key steps including:
On-Site Surveys
Institutions striving for accreditation must undergo on-site evaluations by representatives of the Joint Commission or CARF. Officials representing these organizations carefully examine the subject under scrutiny’s practices regarding topics such as:
- Business record documentation
- Programming
- Patient and employee policies
- The hiring process
- Employee licensing
Ongoing Reviews
Assessments continue long after on-site reviews end. Accreditation-bestowing bodies frequently examine how a given treatment facility establishes procedures, administers therapy, creates its leadership structure, implements policies, and complies with state and other governmental mandates.
Submitting Reports
Institutions in question must provide updated reports clearly demonstrating that they are adhering to all expected standards.
Employee Training
Prospective accredited families must provide evidence showing that their employees receive continuous training in accordance with industry mandates.
What Does Accreditation Mean For Prospective Patients?
Researchers suggest that accreditation results in numerous patient benefits such as:
Improving The Quality Of Care
Repeated evaluations enable substance treatment entities to reevaluate their practices. Such efforts help identify if needed changes must be implemented or if acceptable efforts can be executed faster or with greater efficiency.
Creating A Safer Environment
Accrediting institutions place significant emphasis on patient safety and often offer suggestions on how addiction treatment facilities can create the safest and most comfortable environment.
Hiring Better Qualified Staff Members
Accreditation evaluations typically include recommendations on the specific education, experience, and training prospective employees must receive or obtain to effectively execute needed functions. Such regulations help existing employees obtain any lacking education or training and ensure prospective employees already possess such regulations when hired.
Applying Proven Treatments
Accredited establishments utilize accepted treatments. These widely used therapeutic protocols typically produce more favorable results than unproven techniques.
Receiving Insurance Coverage
Certain insurance companies only offer coverage for institutions holding documented accreditation.
Marketing Purposes
Accredited establishments hold a big leg up on non-accredited entities. Institutions given accreditation can proudly market this fact to prospective patients and is often a major selling point to prospective patients.
Programs Accredited Institutions Should Offer
Accredited treatment centers should offer programs befitting the needs of various patients. Specific examples include intensive inpatient therapy for both substance abuse and alcoholism, outpatient programs, and cutting-edge treatment methods.
Does Accreditation Translate Into Successful Outcomes?
The exact answer to this question is not easy to gauge. A treatment facility patient’s ultimate sobriety hinges on numerous factors including:
- Age
- Addiction type
- The length of time their addiction has lasted
- The dependency’s severity
- The patient’s mental and emotional state during and after treatment
- The underlying reasons that their addictions started
- If the patient has strong family support
That said, researchers maintain that care at an accredited entity significantly increases a patient’s chance for a favorable outcome.
A recent study performed by the officials of several CARF-accredited treatment facilities revealed that said establishments serve 26 percent more people and meet industry standards for safety, policy, the delivery of treatment, and other key variables 37 percentage points higher than non-accredited establishments.
Reaching Out To Us
Prospective patients can take solace in the knowledge that we are an accredited institution meeting or exceeding all pertinent industry standards. Individuals seeking to end long-standing to life-disrupting drug or alcohol dependencies are urged to contact us today at 833-820-2922.