Accreditation Newsletter

SPRING IS HERE!

Welcome to the second edition of Professional Services Network's Accreditation Newsletter. One of the purposes of this newsletter is to provide information that helps your organization streamline its accreditation and other compliance initiatives. In Volume 1, we gave you tips to assist with your URAC Accreditation initiative. This time, we're shifting our focus to NCQA. We hope you find it informative.

Please feel free to give us feedback. We'd love to hear from you!

– Peggy Thomas, RN, MS
   Senior Consultant, Accreditation Services
   pthomas@psninc.net
   Phone: 877-753-1776

NCQA ACCREDITATION & CERTIFICATION TIPS
by Ellen Gotthardt, RN, MS (next) (back)

NCQA Survey preparation…To those who have prepared for an NCQA Survey in the past, the mere mention of these words may conjure up memories of an immeasurable number of hours spent making copies of supporting documentation, carrying out the painful process of filling binders one page at a time, and employing mechanisms to quell document version control nightmares. Well, to those who are, or will be, preparing for an NCQA Survey today or in the future there is good news! NCQA's Interactive Survey System (ISS) is here.

NCQA's Interactive Survey System (ISS) uses Web-based functionality to make the survey process faster and more efficient. The ISS enables organizations to:

	Conduct a full readiness evaluation at the beginning of the preparation process,
	Streamline the data collection process through better communication, management and tracking capabilities,
	Keep notes about the progress of preparation activities,
	View initial scores on individual elements of the standards,
	Perform a "Completeness Check" prior to submitting data to NCQA,
	Facilitate communication with NCQA and the survey team members, and
	Receive more immediate feedback all throughout the survey process.

NCQA's ISS is available for the following types of Surveys:

	Managed Care Organization (MCO) Accreditation
	Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organization (MBHO) Accreditation
	Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Accreditation
	Disease Management (DM) Accreditation/Certification
	New Health Plan (NHP) Accreditation
	VA Human Research Protection Accreditation Program
	Partnership for Human Research Protection Program (PHRP) Accreditation
	Credentials Verification Organization (CVO) Certification
	Physician Organization Certification (POC)
	Utilization Management (UM) Accreditation/Certification
	Privacy Certification for Business Associates
	Heart/Stroke Recognition Program
	Physician Practice Connections Program
	Diabetes Physician Recognition Program

Professional Services Network is happy to announce that we now have the ability to assist organizations with their NCQA survey preparation process. For more information, contact Peggy Thomas at accreditation@psninc.net.

Next time in NCQA Accreditation & Certification Tips: Documentation Management

CONSULTANT SPOTLIGHT (back)

Meet two of our highly qualified consultants.

Ellen Gotthardt, RN, MS

Ellen is our NCQA Specialist with prior experience as Assistant Director of Accreditation Operations/Surveyor at NCQA's office in Washington, DC. Through her hands-on and personable approach, Ellen has successfully assisted many organizations towards successful NCQA Accreditation.

Ellen is a healthcare executive with over 18 years of diversified experience in developing, selling, training, implementing, supporting, and promoting health services strategies, tactics, and programs that have driven the delivery of quality healthcare. Ellen's past experience includes development and monitoring of strategic business plans; personnel development and management; project management; policy and standards development; budget development and accountability; and, regulatory and accreditation compliance.

Guy D'Andrea, MBA

Guy D'Andrea is available to assist your organization with strategic
planning/decision analysis, and URAC Web Site Accreditation preparation. Guy
has worked in health care policy and quality standards for over 12 years.
For seven years, Guy led product development and government affairs for
URAC, where he led the development of all URAC's accreditation standards.
Prior to joining URAC, he held positions in health care policy and
legislation at the American Association of Health Plans (now AHIP), the
American Managed Care and Review Association, and the Maryland Association
of HMOs.

Guy is a frequent speaker on the topic of health care quality and oversight, and has authored numerous articles on accreditation and compliance issues. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and earned dual Masters of Business Administration degrees from Columbia University and the
London Business School, where he graduated as the valedictorian of his program.

Guy has recently developed an Accreditation Return on Investment Model to assist financial decisionmakers in evaluating the fiscal benefits of any type of accreditation. Let us know if you are interested in more information about this Accreditation ROI model!

If you would like to contact either of the above consultants, please send your email comments and/or questions to accreditation@psninc.net.

Do you have an accreditation-related question that you would like us to address in a future issue?

Would you like additional information about our services?

Send us an email – or call us at 1-877-753-1776.