By Healthcare Facilities Today

Beginning July 1, The Joint Commission will offer the Nursing Rehabilitation Center Accreditation program, the result of a year-long overhaul of the Long Term Care Accreditation program to better address the quality oversight demands of the more complex care taking place in long term care facilities, according to the organization.

In conjunction, organizations can pursue a Rehabilitation and Advanced Care Certification option for the first time, to "validate and better distinguish the caliber of their rehabilitation and advanced care capabilities," says The Joint Commission. The review of the certification is done at the same time as the accreditation survey, using the same surveyors, and has a three-year cycle.

Both processes focus on the move away from institutionalized care toward person- and resident-centered care in the long-term care facilities, says The Joint Commission. The accreditation manual has been reworked as a workbook, including prompts to help staff prepare for on-site surveys and documentation checklists.

For more information, visit www.jointcommission.org.