Navigating the TJC Accreditation Process

Have you started your accreditation journey with The Joint Commission yet? The process can be overwhelming for many mental health companies. That’s where Curry Coaching and ConsultingTM can help guide your company through the process. Even with help you need to prepare so that you and your team are geared up and ready to take it on. Let’s take a look at the five essential things that mental health companies should know before starting their accreditation process with The Joint Commission.

1. Start Early, Finish Strong

The process can seem daunting when you first look into the window of time that this process can take place. The Joint Commission site survey typically occurs within 12 months from the time you submit an application, but generally the process will take 4 – 6 months.

Going into the process knowing that it will take some time to complete can help alleviate some of the stress. It is best to start the process as soon as your company is ready.

2. Documentation is Key

How is your record keeping? Meticulous record keeping is a must during the accreditation process. If you don’t have a good record keeping system in place then now is the time to tackle that.

The top three tools your company needs to make sure that they have in place are Electronic Health Records (EHR), Document Management Systems (DMS), and Compliance Tracking Software. Ensure that your EHR system is capable of capturing and storing relevant data required by TJC. Your DMS is crucial to maintaining all of those accreditation related documents. The compliance tracking software is a great tool to have for your company that is strictly dedicated to tracking TJC compliance. Are there any other tools you would add to your toolbox while navigating the TJC process? 

3. Team Collaboration Matters

Have you started the process with your colleagues and employees? Are they aware of the important role that they will play in the process for your company?

The accreditation process is definitely a team effort for your company, and they need to know how valuable that they are to the process. Would you care to share how you have collaborated with your team members? What works and what doesn’t work in the accreditation process? If you haven’t already then maybe it is time to think about establishing a compliance team or committee within your organization. This is a great way to involve and make it a team effort while also moving forward with the process.

4. Continuous Improvement Culture

What better way to improve your company and practice than continuously trying to improve on what you’re already doing? Some ways that you can establish continuous improvement within your organization are by regular training and education, policy management, and internal audits and self assessments.

Start making these small changes with your staff and not only are you ready to begin your TJC journey, but your organization will also benefit from this as well.

5. Surviving Surveys like a Pro

You can never be too prepared, so let’s look into some The Joint Commission survey survival tips to help guide you and your staff through that time.

  • Review requirements
  • Prepare for the day of for what to have available and have space ready within your clinic to meet and debrief.
  • Have a plan ready for the surveyors when they ask for spaces or certain documentation.
  • Sometime prior to the day of the survey spend time in your clinic and with your staff completing a mock survey. This can help identify things that your practice may need to work on or complete before the day of.

Where to Find Support

The Joint Commission accreditation process isn’t always easy. That’s why places like Curry Coaching and ConsultingTM exist. This time for your practice can be stressful, but when you have someone in your corner who has experience with TJC, then you should expect a seamless completion process.

I would love to hear your TJC accreditation experiences! Comment on the blog with your stories. Let’s share our experiences with others!

Would you like to hire Curry Coaching and ConsultingTM to help you navigate The Joint Commission Accreditation process? Check out the different services that we offer here: https://currycoachingandconsulting.com/services/

We would love to help your practice start their journey. Feel free to contact us to help you get started today!

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