Accreditation
A comprehensive standardized program for evaluating the health care organizations to ensure a specified level of quality, as defined by a set of industry standards. It is the process by which an organization recognizes a provider, a program of study or an institution as meeting predetermined standards. Two organizations that accredit managed care plans are the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. JCAHO also accredits hospitals and clinics.
