On January 7, 2013, The Joint Commission launched its new Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Accreditation program. This program replaces the previous Long Term Care Accreditation program, which was established as the Accreditation Program for Extended Care Facilities in 1966. The Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Accreditation program is designed to help providers achieve, maintain and demonstrate consistent excellence in the services they provide.
In addition, a new certification option – Rehabilitation and Advanced Care Certification – is now available. The certification option recognizes the more advanced rehabilitation services provided to patients in nursing and rehabilitation centers, while continuing to elevate the quality of care provided to all those served within their organization. The certification is separate from The Joint Commission’s Disease Specific Care (DSC) certification program. Unlike the DSC program, the review is conducted at the same time as the accreditation survey using the same surveyors, and has a three-year cycle.