Connecting Health Law and Its Implications by Brooke Coleman-Herz

Description: HFAP

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 22:53:34 UTC

The HFAP was created in 1945, and its mission is as follows:

HFAP is a nationally recognized program of AAHHS, offering accreditation and specialty certifications to serve a range of healthcare organizations HFAP is the original healthcare accreditation program in the United States. HFAP holds deeming authority from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and also is recognized by state governments and regulatory bodies, and insurers. HFAP’s mission is to be the valued partner for healthcare organizations committed to improving their quality of care, through accreditation/certification standards and continuing education, with a focus on advancing the health and welfare of their communities

(United Medical Systems, n.d.).

Accreditation Benefits

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 22:58:21 UTC

They offer accreditation for: Home Based Care and Services, Outpatient Care and Services, and Inpatient and Residential Care.

Organizations Founding

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:01:44 UTC

The organization was founded in 1945 and merged with ACHC in 1986. They accredit: Home Based Care and Services, Outpatient Care and Services, and Inpatient and Residential Care.

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:06:05 UTC

They accredit at least four different kinds of organizations, which are mentioned above. The primary one is acute care hospital accreditation. They also offer services for certification, such as Ambulatory Surgery Center Certified Consulting Training and Certified Consultant Training; they also offer skills training for things like palliative care, pharmacy classes, and home care marketing. They also offer advisory services. They technically have at least 21 accreditation programs.

Preparation for Accreditation

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:11:25 UTC

As stated on their website:

1)It starts with access to ACHCU, our educational division that offers an extensive collection of educational resources designed to help prepare you for the accreditation process, including workshops, webinars, workbooks, and more. These tools will help you conduct a comprehensive review of your organization as it relates to ACHC Accreditation Standards, giving you the knowledge to identify compliance gaps and make necessary adjustments. 2) During your formal accreditation review, our industry-expert Surveyors will perform a comprehensive process that considers organizational structure, policies and procedures, and compliance with state and federal regulations. 3) Our industry-expert Surveyors will conduct a review of your organization’s operations every three years (two years for clinical laboratories) to help you maintain excellence and a culture of continuous improvement. By maintaining compliance with ACHC Accreditation Standards, your organization will benefit from consistent operational efficiency and will be better prepared to deliver high-quality patient care.

(Accreditation Commission for Healthcare, 2025).

They don’t really list the time frame for accreditation, but you can sign up on their website to be sent additional information regarding this process and ways that you can prepare to utilize their services.

Additional Programs

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:20:54 UTC

1) Ambulatory Care, 2) Assisted Living, 3) Behavioral Health, 4) DMEPOS, 5) Healthcare Staffing, 6) Home Care, 7) Home Health, 8) Home Infusion, & 9)Hospice.

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:34:14 UTC

Provider Credentialing: American Midwifery Certification Board

The American Midwifery Certification Board has credentialing for Certified Midwifery (CM) and Certified Nurse Midwifery (CNM).

"The American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB), formerly the ACNM Certification Council, Inc. (ACC), is the national certifying body for Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Midwives (CMs). The certification function is a critical aspect of professional quality assurance in midwifery. Nurse-midwives have been certified by examination since 1971" (American Midwifery Certification Board, 2025).

What are the eligibility requirements to sit for the credentials?

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:36:03 UTC

“The audience for the AMCB certification programs are successful graduates of an accredited educational program for nurse-midwives or midwives with a graduate degree. CNM candidates must also have an active RN license” (American Midwifery Certification Board, 2025).

Eligibility Requirements Continued:

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:38:21 UTC

An individual also has to complete an exam application. It is also offered in a computer-based format, and there are more than 120 testing sites within the United States. There are 175 questions on the exam, and it is in a multiple-choice format. An individual has 4 hours to complete the exam. The fee for the exam is around $500, and the fee to retake the exam is $350, and if you need to reschedule your exam, it is $121. If you need a verification letter of your credentials/certification sent out, it is $40. Also, if you need a rescore performed on an exam, the fee is $50. There is also a fee of $50 for a bounced check. The content covered in the exam involves materials featured in the ‘task analysis.’

As stated on their website:

The Task Analysis Survey, created by The American Midwifery Certification Board, is a Certificate Maintenance Program (CMP) requirement for ALL first-time recertifiers with an expiration date of 12/31/2025 or after. The survey describes tasks performed by CNMs and CMs who have been certified within the last five years and practice in the United States. Some CNMs and CMs perform a limited number of these tasks; others perform additional tasks to those described. Our intent with this survey is to attempt to identify what tasks we actually perform and use this information to help us make our certifying examinations reflective of these tasks

(American Midwifery Certification Board, 2025).

Credentialing Importance

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:41:18 UTC

It demonstrates that one has the proper skills and knowledge to be able to practice midwifery. It also works to ensure that those who pass the certification meet the standards to be able to practice midwifery safely. The certification is valid for 5 years, and then one needs to take the exam again to be able to continue to practice within their field.

Why are they so important to the hospital organization and or practice?

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:44:23 UTC

1) “The American Midwifery Certification Board is the gold standard in midwifery and nurse-midwifery certification. Other certifying bodies do not ensure the same level of experience and educational standards and requirements. 2). While state licensure provides the legal basis for practice, most states require AMCB certification for licensure, and many institutions require AMCB certification to grant practice privileges. And 3). The titles CNM and CM are registered through the Federal Office of Patents and Trademarks and can only be used by midwives certified through the AMCB” (American Midwifery Certification Board, 2025).

In addition, the certifications are accepted in all 50 states. It also helps to validate that you have in fact passed all of the needed standards to be able to practice midwifery. It also connects you with others in your field via various committees. It also offers a certain level of legal protection in comparison to others who are practicing in statesthath are unregulated. AMCB can provide legal protection via their certification.

Credentialing Differences: (CNM), (CM), &(CMP)

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:49:10 UTC

For the differences between a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and Certified Midwife (CM) via the AMCB, is that certification via their organization requires a graduate degree, graduation from a nurse midwifery educational program which is accredited by ACNM for midwifery education. It also requires verification of one’s completion of their education program, via the program director. And an active registered nurse license. The recertification exam needs to be taken every five years. With the Certified Midwife (CM) credential, all of the standards are the same, except for needing to have an RN. Both the CM and the CNM requires a clinical experience.

As stated via their website: “Attainment of clinical skills must meet Core Competencies for Basic Midwifery Education (ACNM 2008). Clinical education must occur under the supervision of an AMCB-certified CNM/CM or Advanced Practice RN (APRN) who holds a graduate degree and has clinical expertise and didactic knowledge commensurate with content taught. Clinical skills include management of primary care for women throughout the lifespan, including reproductive health care, pregnancy, and birth; care of the normal newborn; and management of sexually transmitted infections in male partners”.

(American Midwifery Certification Board, 2025).

On the other hand, with a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), via the North American Registry of Midwives (Narm), what is needed is a High School Diploma or equivalency, completion of their portfolio evaluation process or to complete a midwifery education program, being AMCB certified, CNM or CN, or successful completion of a state licensure exam. Recertification needs to be completed every 3 years. There are also clinical experiences required for the degree. For additional information, please see this link for additional information. https://www.amcbmidwife.org/amcb-certification/why-amcb-certification-

References

brcol46 — 2025-04-13 23:55:44 UTC

Accreditation Commission for Health Care. (2021). ACHC Offers More: A Single Source Accreditation Solution. [Infographic]. www.achc.org.

https://www.chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.achc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ACHC-Single-Source-Infographic.pdf

Accreditation Commission for Healthcare. (2025, April 13). About Accreditation-ACHC. https://www.achc.org/about-accreditation/#why_achc.

American Midwifery Certification Board. (2025, April 13). Certification Examination. https://amcbmidwife.org/certification

American Midwifery Certification Board. (2025, April 13.) Why AMCB Certification? https://www.amcbmidwife.org/amcb-certification/why-amcb-certification-

Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ums-usa.com/hfap-recertification-confirms-ums-high-quality-performance/