Guide for Accrediting Bodies: Partnering with LTC@Home Quality Commission

The Long Term Care at Home Quality Commission (LTC@HQC) is dedicated to advancing the standards and quality of pharmacy services in the long-term care at home sector. This guide outlines how accrediting bodies can collaborate with LTC@HQC to deliver the LTC@Home Pharmacy Accreditation, ensuring that pharmacies meet the highest standards of care.

  1. Understanding LTC@HQC’s Mission
    • LTC@HQC is committed to:
      • Developing robust accreditation guidelines and policies.
      • Promoting high standards and quality in the long-term care at home pharmacy sector.
      • Working closely with plans and payers to ensure adherence to these standards, facilitating reimbursement opportunities for pharmacies.
      • Ensuring pharmacies deliver efficient, high-quality care, enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.
  2. Benefits of Partnering with LTC@HQC
    • Credibility and Trust: Leverage LTC@HQC’s expertise to provide a recognized and respected accreditation.
    • Market Leadership: Offer the leading industry accreditation for long-term care at home pharmacies.
    • Quality Assurance: Ensure pharmacies meet rigorous standards, promoting safety, efficiency, and high-quality care.
    • Reimbursement Opportunities: Facilitate pharmacies’ access to reimbursement for their services, enhancing their financial viability and service delivery.
    • Robust Market: Gain access to a pipeline of pharmacies wanting accreditation, ensuring a steady stream of candidates for your accreditation services.
  3. Partnership Process
    • Step 1: Initial Engagement
      • Introduction Meeting: Schedule a meeting with LTC@HQC to understand the accreditation framework and requirements.
      • Partnership Agreement: Sign a partnership agreement to formalize the partnership and outline roles and responsibilities.
    • Step 2: Guidelines and Policy Development
      • Access Guidelines: Receive detailed accreditation guidelines, policies, and procedures developed by LTC@HQC.
        • LTC@HQC will work with your team to crosswalk guidelines, policies, and procedures in your organization’s framework.
      • Customization: Work with LTC@HQC to tailor guidelines to specific needs and regulatory requirements for LTC@Home pharmacy.
    • Step 3: Training and Support
      • Training Programs: Participate in training programs to understand the LTC@Home pharmacy sector, accreditation guidelines, evaluation criteria, and documentation requirements.
      • Support Resources: Access a range of support resources, including training materials, checklists, and FAQs for pharmacy success.
    • Step 4: Accreditation Execution
      • Assessment Preparation: Guide pharmacies through the preparation process, ensuring all necessary documentation and procedures are in place.
      • On-Site Surveys: Conduct comprehensive on-site surveys and evaluations using LTC@HQC’s established protocols and criteria.
    • Step 5: Accreditation Decision
      • Evaluation Report & Decisions: Compile and submit evaluation reports and accreditation decisions to LTC@HQC for review.
    • Step 6: Continuous Improvement
      • Ongoing Support: Provide ongoing support to accredited pharmacies, ensuring continuous adherence to standards and encouraging quality improvement.
      • Reaccreditation: Facilitate the reaccreditation process every two-three years, ensuring sustained compliance and quality.
  4. Roles and Responsibilities
    • LTC@Home Quality Commission
      • Develop Guidelines and Policies:
        • Create comprehensive accreditation guidelines and policies tailored for long-term care at home pharmacies.
        • Ensure guidelines meet industry best practices and regulatory requirements.
      • Provide Training and Support:
        • Offer training programs for the accreditation agency’s assessors and staff to familiarize them with the LTC@Home accreditation standards and procedures.
        • Supply support resources, including manuals, checklists, and templates.
      • Ongoing Consultation:
        • Maintain open communication channels for continuous consultation and support.
        • Provide expert advice on any updates or changes to accreditation standards.
      • Marketing and Outreach:
        • Promote the LTC@Home Pharmacy Accreditation to potential candidates, leveraging a robust market infiltration to provide a steady pipeline of pharmacies ready for accreditation.
    • Accreditation Agency Responsibilities
      • Adopt and Implement Guidelines:
        • Integrate LTC@HQC’s accreditation guidelines and policies into the agency’s accreditation processes.
        • Ensure assessors are well-versed and comply with the established guidelines.
      • Conduct Assessments:
        • Perform thorough and objective assessments of pharmacies seeking LTC@Home accreditation.
        • Use standardized evaluation tools and methods as provided by LTC@HQC.
      • Report Findings:
        • Document and report assessment findings to LTC@HQC.
        • Provide feedback on the accreditation process to support continuous improvement.
      • Maintain Quality Standards:
        • Uphold the high standards set forth by LTC@HQC throughout the accreditation process.
        • Ensure accredited pharmacies continue to meet these standards through periodic reviews and audits.
    • Joint Responsibilities
      • Collaboration:
        • Work collaboratively to ensure the accreditation process is seamless, transparent, and effective.
        • Regularly review and update the accreditation guidelines and processes to reflect industry changes and improvements.
      • Stakeholder Engagement:
        • Engage stakeholders to highlight the value of LTC@Home accreditation.
        • Promote the accreditation’s benefits, including improved quality of care, enhanced patient outcomes, and increased reimbursement opportunities.
      • Marketing and Communication:
        • Jointly develop marketing materials and strategies to raise awareness of the LTC@Home accreditation.
        • Conduct joint events, webinars, and seminars to educate and attract pharmacies to the accreditation program.

Overview of Tools and Resources Provided by LTC@Home Quality Commission to Accrediting Bodies

At LTC@HQC, we are committed to equipping accrediting bodies with the necessary tools and resources to effectively assess and accredit long term care at home pharmacies. Our comprehensive suite of resources aims to streamline the accreditation process, uphold rigorous standards, and promote quality assurance in the pharmacy sector. Here’s an overview of the tools and resources we provide:

  1. Accreditation Guidelines and Standards:
    1. Comprehensive Standards: We develop detailed accreditation standards that encompass all aspects of long-term care at home pharmacy practice, ensuring adherence to industry best practices and regulatory requirements.
    2. Guidance Documents: Accompanying guidance documents provide clarifications, interpretations, and examples to support accrediting bodies in understanding and implementing accreditation standards effectively.
  2. Accreditation Processes and Procedures:
    1. Structured Processes: LTC@HQC outlines clear and structured accreditation processes and procedures, guiding accrediting bodies through each stage of the accreditation process.
    2. Assessment Tools: We provide assessment tools, including checklists, scoring rubrics, and evaluation templates, to facilitate thorough and consistent assessments of pharmacy compliance with accreditation standards.
  3. Compliance Materials:
    1. Documentation Templates: Our library of documentation templates assists accrediting bodies in collecting and organizing relevant documentation from pharmacies, ensuring compliance with accreditation requirements.
    2. Training Modules: Customized training modules cover accreditation processes, standards interpretation, and assessment techniques, empowering accrediting bodies with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective accreditation activities.
  4. Quality Monitoring and Improvement:
    1. Performance Metrics: We establish key performance metrics and indicators to monitor the effectiveness of accreditation activities and track the impact of accredited pharmacies on patient outcomes and healthcare quality.
    2. Continuous Improvement Initiatives: LTC@HQC facilitates continuous improvement initiatives by providing guidance on performance analysis, benchmarking, and best practices dissemination among accrediting bodies.
  5. Collaboration and Support:
    1. Technical Assistance: Our team offers ongoing technical assistance and support to accrediting bodies, addressing inquiries, providing guidance on accreditation-related matters, and facilitating collaborative efforts to enhance accreditation processes.
    2. Community Engagement: We foster a collaborative community of pharmacies, facilitating knowledge exchange, peer learning, and collaboration opportunities to strengthen accreditation practices and standards.