Following a lengthy and rigorous inspection, The Guidance Center recently received full accreditation for its hospital and behavioral health operations from the Joint Commission, a national accreditation organization whose standards are among the highest.
Accreditation from a certified inspection agency such as the Joint Commission is required to participate in and receive payment from Medicare. Behavioral health care accreditation signifies continuous compliance with Federal performance standards and it reflects The Guidance Center’s commitment to providing safe and effective care.
The Guidance Center was awarded “Deemed Status” for its psychiatric hospital. Deemed Status is the most esteemed level of accreditation and involved the most in-depth review process. To earn and maintain accreditation by the Joint Commission, a health care organization must undergo an on-site survey by a Joint Commission team at least once every three years. The dates and times of theses on-site visits are unannounced so that the inspection team may observe normal daily operations without advance preparation on the part of the healthcare provider.
The Joint Commission’s behavioral health care accreditation requirements address important functions relating to the care, treatment, and services of individuals and the management of behavioral health care organizations. The accreditation requirements are framed as performance objectives that are unlikely to change substantially over time. A trauma-informed, recovery/resilience-oriented philosophy and approach to care, treatment, and services is embedded in all the requirements. The Joint Commission develops all its accreditation requirements in consultation with behavioral health care experts, providers, measurement experts, individuals, and their families.
The Joint Commission provides health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission currently evaluates and accredits more than 20,500 health care organizations and programs in the United States.
The Guidance Center is a not-for-profit regional behavioral health provider located in Flagstaff and service most of Coconino County. Established in 1969, The Guidance Center offers behavioral health counselling to children, families, individuals, and groups. It specializes in serious mental illness, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, trauma, and childhood behavioral issues. The Guidance Center also offers psychiatric hospital services, residential substance abuse services, and crisis services which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.