ACHC develops distinctions for respiratory, custom mobility

CARY, N.C. – The Accreditation Commission for Health Care has developed two new distinctions for DMEPOS-accredited organizations to help them demonstrate their commitment to patient quality of life. 

The Distinction in Clinical Respiratory Patient Management allows providers to demonstrate expertise in managing respiratory conditions, and the Distinction in Custom Mobility recognizes first-rate providers of custom mobility products. 

“By offering these groundbreaking distinctions, ACHC provides innovative solutions to address health care market needs of specialization and differentiation that complement accreditation,” said Tim Safley, DMEPOS program director for ACHC. “Such subspecialties are unique in their design and enhance national efforts to reduce hospital readmissions. A distinction award recognizes providers who exceed industry expectations for high-quality patient care.” 

The distinction in respiratory must be earned in combination with ACHC Home/Durable Medical Equipment Accreditation, and the distinction in custom mobility must be earned in combination with the ACHC Complex Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Supplier Accreditation. 

The distinction in respiratory, which encompasses the assessment, treatment, disease management and education of respiratory conditions, helps licensed respiratory care practitioners and other qualified health care professionals distinguish their expertise in ongoing, home-based patient respiratory care, ACHC says. 

The distinction in custom mobility, which addresses wheeled mobility, seating and alternative positioning, ambulation support, environmental control, augmented communication and other assistance needs, focuses on the creation and maintenance of treatment plans, goal and outcome monitoring, patient follow up and documentation to prevent complications and ensure patients maintain/improve mobility.