CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) is a not-for-profit organization that offers accreditation for various health and human services. They accredit a wide array of facilities including rehabilitation, behavior management, and youth services. This international accrediting organization offers these facilities an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of their standards and offerings. For first-time applicants, preparation for accreditation typically takes between six months and a year. Following the actual CARF survey, the rest of the process takes approximately six to eight weeks.
Is CARF Accreditation Worth It?
CARF accreditation — or accreditation from another reputable accrediting body for that matter — can offer many benefits to a behavioral health organization. As mentioned, CARF accreditation is a good way for organizations to demonstrate dedication to quality and set themselves apart from competitors. CARF is one of the most well-known and reputable accrediting organizations for human and health services, and therefore is likely to be a standard people are looking for when comparing similar organizations.
As such, CARF accreditation not only allows your organization to demonstrate its quality as evaluated by a reputable third-party, but also may help you show how the level of quality your organization offers substantially outstrips those of competing organizations. In fact, according to CARF, 98% of CARF customers report improvements in their business.
CARF Accreditation Requirements
In order to obtain accreditation, an organization must meet several clear standards of quality and care. These standards include:
- Adherence to specific safety standards and measures;
- Cleanliness of facilities;
- Comfort provided by facilities;
- Excellence of healthcare;
- Consideration for personal preferences and needs of patients;
- Respect for varying cultural backgrounds;
- Person-centered care.
These standards must meet specific metrics and include specific practices outlined by CARF. A thorough auditing process ensures that these standards are being upheld. The audit is also often referred to as the survey. Many tools and procedures may need to be updated or implemented in order to ensure that the organization can meet CARF standards. For example, EHR software can help improve an organization’s filing and information security systems and customer service in accordance with accreditation standards. In preparation for the accreditation audit, an organization will contact CARF and schedule an audit, self-assess for adherence to standards, and submit a survey application.
CARF Accreditation Application Process
In order to apply for a CARF audit, you need to pay an application fee and a survey fee. The application fee is $995, and the survey fee varies based on the time and number of surveyors needed to complete the audit. You can get a quote on the CARF website. Recertification should be applied for before the previous term of certification ends. You can submit the application through the online portal Customer Connect.
The application is thorough and directs organizations to document many elements of their organization’s details, programs, procedures, and offerings, including:
- Location;
- Programs;
- Services;
- Policies and procedures;
- Plans for quality improvement;
- Supporting documentation.
After submitting the application, you will need to schedule the audit, facilitate and participate in the survey process as needed, and then await the certification decision. If your certification is approved, you will next need to submit a Plan of Action form through the Customer Connect portal. Finally, you will need to submit annual reports by the first and second certification anniversary dates. Your organization may be awarded a 1-year or 3-year term of accreditation.
CARF Accreditation Types
There are several outcomes that may come from the CARF accreditation process. These include:
- Non-accreditation: The organization failed to obtain or lost their accreditation.
- Preliminary accreditation: The organization demonstrates compliance with standards but is not yet offering client services. They will need to be re-surveyed after six months.
- Provisional accreditation: An organization that was previously awarded one-year accreditation and is still operating at the level of one-year accreditation has been awarded an additional year, but must demonstrate that they are adhering to the standards of a three-year accreditation level at their next survey in order to maintain their status.
- One-year accreditation: The organization has been awarded one year of accreditation based on conformance to many CARF standards and demonstration of the ability to correct deficiencies in their quality and services.
- Three-year accreditation: This is the highest level of accreditation. The organization adheres to CARF standards to a high level and demonstrated improvement as advised by CARF following previous periods of accreditation.
CARF also accredits a wide variety of health and human services, including the following types of programs:
- Aging Services (AS);
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC);
- Behavioral Health (BH);
- Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP);
- Child and Youth Services (CYS);
- Employment and Community Services (ECS);
- Medical Rehabilitation (MED);
- Vision Rehabilitation Services (VRS).
If you are unsure if your organization is eligible to apply for CARF accreditation, contact CARF International to make an inquiry.
CARF Accreditation vs. JCAHO
CARF is one of the two most reputable accrediting organizations for behavioral health services, with the other being the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). While the standards and practices of these organizations are very similar, there are some differences between the two accrediting bodies.
Notably, unlike CARF, JCAHO does not consider an organization’s “track record” when determining accreditation, and instead only considers its current adherence to standards and ability to maintain it. Meanwhile, CARF allows you to apply for accreditation for specific programs rather than requiring adherence to standards across the entire organization. For example, if your organization has residential and out-patient programs, you could apply for accreditation for one and not the other. In contrast, those applying for JCAHO accreditation must demonstrate consistent conformity to standards across the organization’s programs and offerings. Additionally, the accreditation process for CARF is typically lengthier.