The Pros and Cons of Governmental and Independent Hospital Accreditation in the United States
1. Introduction
The accreditation of hospitals is a process that helps to ensure the quality of healthcare services provided by these institutions. The process of accreditation is conducted by independent agencies which establish standards, guidelines, or criteria that hospitals must meet in order to be accredited. Once a hospital is accredited, it means that it has been found to meet certain quality standards and is thus considered to be a safe and reliable place for patients to receive care.
The accreditation of hospitals is a voluntary process in the United States, meaning that hospitals are not required by law to participate in it. However, many hospital administrators choose to participate in the accreditation process in order to show their commitment to providing quality care for their patients. In addition, participation in the accreditation process can also help hospitals to receive reimbursement from insurance companies and other third-party payers.
There are two main types of hospital accreditation in the United States: government accreditation and independent accreditation. Government accreditation is conducted by federal agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Independent accreditation is conducted by private organizations such as the National Quality Forum (NQF) and the Leapfrog Group.
2. The Current System of Hospital Accreditation in the United States
2.1 Voluntary Participation in the Accreditation Process
As mentioned above, participation in the hospital accreditation process is voluntary in the United States. This means that hospitals are not required by law to participate in it. However, many hospital administrators choose to participate in the accreditation process in order to show their commitment to providing quality care for their patients. In addition, participation in the accreditation process can also help hospitals to receive reimbursement from insurance companies and other third-party payers.
The current system of hospital accreditation in the United States is conducted by two main types of organizations: government agencies and independent agencies. Government agencies that conduct hospital accreditation include the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Independent agencies that conduct hospital accreditation include the National Quality Forum (NQF) and the Leapfrog Group.
2.2 Effectiveness of the Current System of Hospital Accreditation in the United States
The current system of hospital accreditation in the United States has been criticized by some scholars and specialists for being ineffective and/or unnecessary. Critics argue that the current system does not do enough to improve the quality of care provided by hospitals or to protect patients from harm. They also argue that the cost of participating in the accreditation process is too high for many hospitals, particularly small rural hospitals.
Despite these criticisms, there is evidence to suggest that participation in the hospital accreditation process does lead to improvements in the quality of care provided by hospitals. A study conducted by JCAHO found that accredited hospitals had significantly lower rates of patient mortality than non-accredited hospitals. In addition, another study found that accredited hospitals were more likely than non-accredited hospitals to use best practices for preventing surgical errors.
3. Why Independent Accreditation of Hospitals is Preferred to Governmental Accreditation? Discussion about pros and cons about both systems ( governmental and independent) of accreditation of hospitals in the USA
3. 1 Objectivity and Independence of the Process
One of the main advantages of independent accreditation of hospitals is that it is conducted by organizations that are independent from the hospitals themselves. This means that the accreditation process is more objective and unbiased than if it were conducted by government agencies. Government agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), are often accused of being too lenient in their accreditation standards. This is because these agencies are reluctant to impose strict standards on hospitals, as they do not want to be seen as interfering with the delivery of care.
Independent accreditation organizations, on the other hand, are not beholden to the same political pressures as government agencies. This allows them to set stricter standards for hospital accreditation. In addition, it also allows them to be more demanding in their evaluations of hospitals. As a result, many experts believe that independent accreditation is a more effective way of ensuring the quality of care provided by hospitals.
3.2 Potential for the Improvement of the Quality of Healthcare Services in the United States
Another advantage of independent accreditation of hospitals is that it has the potential to improve the quality of healthcare services in the United States. This is because independent accreditation organizations are not afraid to impose strict standards on hospitals. If these standards are properly enforced, it will lead to an improvement in the quality of care provided by hospitals. In addition, it will also lead to an improvement in patient safety, as hospitals will be forced to comply with best practices for preventing errors and infections.
The potential for improving the quality of healthcare services in the United States through independent accreditation is evident in other countries where this type of accreditation is used. For example, a study conducted in Canada found that independently accredited hospitals had significantly lower rates of mortality than non-accredited hospitals. In addition, another study found that independently accredited hospitals in Australia were more likely to use best practices for preventing surgical errors than non-accredited hospitals. These studies suggest that independent accreditation can indeed lead to improvements in the quality of care provided by hospitals.
4. Conclusion
The process of hospital accreditation is rather controversial, due to its effects and involved costs, but still a necessary element of the health care system in the United States. The current system used in America includes both governmental and private organizations working together to create standardized guidelinecriteria for safe hospital care; however, there are disadvantages and advantages to both types o f involvement in this process. Independent accreditation agencies seem to provide a better solution overall as they offer more objective evaluations due to less political pressure compared to federal agencies like CMS while also having potential to improve the quality of American healthcare services as a whole through stricter standards.