Gilchrist Palliative Program Awarded CHAP Certification

Gilchrist announced today its Palliative Care program has been awarded certification for three years by the accrediting body Community Health Accreditation Partner, Inc. (CHAP). Gilchrist’s palliative program is believed to be the first such program in the tri-state region to receive CHAP certification.

CHAP certification demonstrates that Gilchrist meets the industry’s highest nationally recognized standards. The certification was conferred after a rigorous site visit by CHAP surveyors the week of December 6. The site visit included a review of policy and procedures, documentation of patient and family care and coordination, and interviews with staff members, patients and families.

The CHAP surveyors noted a high level of care integration and standardization within Gilchrist. For example, they observed an interdisciplinary team meeting where every discipline participated in the conversation and the care plan included each team member’s input. This integrated approach ensures the best care plan for patients and families. The surveyors also noted that, during a full-scale pandemic, Gilchrist brought a palliative care program into the community that met national standards, which demonstrated a commitment to the community.

“We are extremely proud to be the first provider in the region to achieve the CHAP palliative certification,” said Catherine Hamel, president of Gilchrist. “Achieving this certification from a national certifying body affirms Gilchrist’s dedication to quality, safety and patient/family-centered care for people with serious illness. It is the result of purposeful attention to the highest level of quality and our continuous commitment to going above and beyond for every patient and family we serve.”

Palliative care is the organized delivery of patient- and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating symptoms of individuals with serious illness. Palliative care addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the patient and the family and facilitates access to information and choice. Palliative care is provided and coordinated by an interdisciplinary team in any setting.

CHAP is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body for community-based health care organizations. Created in 1965, CHAP was the first to recognize the need and value for accreditation in community-based care. CHAP is the oldest national community-based accrediting body, with more than 9,000 agencies currently accredited nationwide. Through “deeming authority” granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), CHAP has the regulatory authority to survey agencies providing home health, hospice and home medical equipment services to determine if they meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation and CMS Quality Standards. CHAP’s purpose is to define and advance the highest standards of community-based care.