ACHC Launches New Distinctions for Home-Based Care Services

CARY, North Carolina—The Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) has launched two new specialty credentials: the distinction in age-friendly care for home health and hospice, and the distinction in outcomes for home health. The addition of these credentials aims to further ACHC’s commitment to set quality standards for home-based care services, the company said. Based on thorough evaluation of defined specialty services, the distinctions will be awarded to ACHC-accredited organizations that have provided high-quality, patient-centered care.

Age-Friendly Care for Home Health and Hospice

The distinction in age-friendly care acknowledges organizations recognizing the unique goals and priorities of older adult care. Age-friendly care aims to ensure safety, reduce harm or confusion and align care with patients’ goals, thereby improving outcomes and satisfaction. Awarded organizations have demonstrated sufficient implementation of such considerations, as well as demonstrated the four evidence-based best practices in geriatric care, known as the “4Ms” (what matters, medication, mentation and mobility.)

Outcomes for Home Health

The home health distinction in outcomes aims to recognize excellence across three key domains: patient outcomes, patient satisfaction and health care utilization. Since 2021, nationwide data and Medicare claims have been accumulated from annual evaluation reports for the home health value-based purchasing model, which ranks agencies by performance within peer cohorts. The distinction is available to ACHC-accredited agencies that score in the top 25% of their cohort.

Intending to set quality standards and enhance home-based care services, both distinctions highlight ACHC’s commitment to providing diverse agencies with solutions that meet the needs of their patient population.

“I believe the best part of delivering age-friendly health services is when the clinicians realize it is the most important part of the care we give,” said Karen Snavely, regional director of clinical services for CommonSpirit Health at Home. “When we ask the patient what matters to them, we get a completely different view of what the goal for their care should be and how important it is to them. One clinician said this has become the best part of documentation, knowing what the patient really wants.”

By offering these distinctions, ACHC will ensure home-based care agencies are focused on a patient-centered approach as they pursue continuous quality improvement, the company said.