Big Bend Hospice awarded CHAP Accreditation

Big Bend Hospice is proud to announce the recent successful renewal of its Community Health Accreditation Partner, Inc. (CHAP) Hospice Accreditation, and also being deemed to meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation as a certified Medicare Provider. “By achieving CHAP Accreditation, Big Bend Hospice has shown a commitment to providing quality care, continuous improvement and excellence,” said Karen Collishaw, CHAP President and CEO. CHAP is an independent not-for-profit 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. “This highly respected accreditation signifies that Big Bend Hospice staff works hard to provide our patients and families with the best care possible,” said Cathy Adkison, President and CEO of Big Bend Hospice. “It is our goal to continue serving the Big Bend with warm-hearted, skillful and dignified care, because that’s what makes us the Hometown Hospice.” Licensed since 1983, Big Bend Hospice serves Leon, Jefferson, Taylor, Madison, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin and Wakulla counties with expert healthcare, encouragement, hope, compassion and companionship to people with a life-limiting illness, so that they can complete personal goals and find spiritual and emotional peace. Big Bend Hospice provides each patient with a care team composed of the patient’s own physician, a hospice nurse, home health aide, family support counselor, music therapist, chaplain and a trained volunteer. Services can be provided in the patient’s own home, a nursing home, an assisted living facility, a hospital or at the Big Bend Hospice Margaret Z. Dozier Hospice House. For more information about the CHAP Accreditation process, please visit the CHAP website at www.chapinc.org. If you would like information about Big Bend Hospice services, please call (850) 878-5310 or visit www.bigbendhospice.o-rg.