Accreditation Accreditation - "Pledge of Excellence" Because Bluegrass Oxygen is committed to providing the highest quality of care and services to our patients, we maintain voluntary accreditation through the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  In this section of the web site, we have listed the reasons for organizations to become accredited and why Bluegrass Oxygen became accredited.                                                      Facts about the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations  Mission: To continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 17,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, JCAHO is the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Since 1951, JCAHO has developed state-of-the-art, professionally based standards and evaluated the compliance of health care organizations against these benchmarks. JCAHO's evaluation and accreditation services are provided for the following types of organizations: General, psychiatric, children's and rehabilitation hospitals. Health care networks, including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), and managed behavioral health care organizations. Home care organizations, including those that provide home health services, personal care and support services, home infusion and other pharmacy services, durable medical equipment services and hospice services. Nursing homes and other long term care facilities, including subacute care programs, dementia programs and long term care pharmacies. Assisted living facilities that provide or coordinate personal services, 24-hour supervision and assistance (scheduled and unscheduled), activities and health-related services. Behavioral health care organizations, including those that provide mental health and addiction services, and services to persons with developmental disabilities of various ages, in various organized service settings. Ambulatory care providers, including outpatient surgery facilities, rehabilitation centers, infusion centers, group practices and others. Clinical laboratories. JCAHO accreditation is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to meeting certain performance standards. To earn and maintain accreditation, an organization must undergo an on-site survey by a JCAHO survey team at least every three years. JCAHO is governed by a 28-member Board of Commissioners that includes nurses, physicians, consumers, medical directors, administrators, providers, employers, labor representatives, health plan leaders, quality experts, ethicists, health insurance administrators and educators. The Board of Commissioners brings to JCAHO countless years of diverse experience in health care, business and public policy. JCAHO's corporate members are the American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, the American College of Surgeons, the American Dental Association, the American Hospital Association and the American Medical Association. JCAHO employs more than 1,000 people in its surveyor force, at its central office in Oakbrook Terrace, and at a satellite office in Washington, DC. Benefits of JCAHO Accreditation Leads to improved patient care. Demonstrates the organization's commitment to safety and quality. Offers a consultative and educational experience. Supports and enhances safety and quality improvement efforts. Strengthens and supports recruitment and retention efforts. May substitute for federal certification surveys for Medicare and Medicaid. Helps secure managed care contracts. Facilitates the organization's business strategies. Provides a competitive advantage. Enhances the organization's image to the public, purchasers and payers. Fulfills licensure requirements in many states. Recognized by insurers and other third parties. Strengthens community confidence. Standards and Performance Measurement JCAHO's standards address the organization's level of performance in key functional areas, such as patient rights, patient treatment, and infection control, and the standards focus not simply on what the organization has, but what it does. Standards set forth performance expectations for activities that affect the safety and quality of patient care. If an organization does the right things and does them well, there is a strong likelihood that its patients will experience good outcomes. JCAHO develops its standards in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts, purchasers and consumers.