Did you know that CHS is accredited by The Joint Commission—and what that distinction means?

As the oldest and largest healthcare standards-setting and accrediting organization in the nation, the independent, not-for-profit Joint Commission is the ultimate endorsement or achievement in healthcare.

“The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including hospitals and health care organizations that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home health care, laboratory and nursing care center services.” (www.jointcommission.org)

CHS is the only organization in our category in South Dakota that has achieved Joint Commission accreditation, which covers residential care, schools and foster care.

Rigorous standards

Receiving accreditation from the Joint Commission is a major achievement because it requires meeting a tremendous number of requirements regarding safety and quality of care.

Surveyors visit accredited organizations once every 36 months to evaluate standards compliance, and their visits are unannounced. Joint Commission surveyors are highly trained experts in behavioral health care. They monitor how well we:

• Provide a safe care environment
• Follow key policies and practices to improve the quality of care
• Provide education on risks and options for care or treatment
• Protect client rights, including privacy
• Work to continuously improve services
• Plan for emergency situations.

At CHS, Compliance Director Jody Carpenter manages this process.