What's New

Added 2022-2023-CHANGES IN THE CARF STANDARDS: SECTION ONE/ASPIRE-ALL MANUALS

Added 2022-2023 CHANGES IN THE CARF MANUAL SECTIONS 1-5 OF THE OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM STANDARDS

Added 2022-2023 CHANGES IN THE CARF MANUAL SECTIONS 1-5 OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STANDARDS

Added the new document for P&P, Remote Service Delivery Using Information & Communication Technologies (ICT), for organizations that that use ICT to deliver services. This is a new section in the CARF manual under General Program Standards.

Added new document for P&P, Management of Personal Possessions and Valuables. To meet general program standards in Section 2.A.

Modifications to security. Added ability for organizations to select password security strength, added options to allow for requiring email addresses and ability to limit email addresses to a specified domain, added email verification, modified Forgot Password function to email reset link and added website instructions to document template section.

Modified nightly process to forward next review dates whenever a current period ends.

Expanded reminder system to allow for turning on/off differents sections of the system reminders. Added ability for subscriber to determine which day(s) of the week they will receive reminders.

Loaded 2021-2022 Changes in Sections 1-2 of the Opioid Treatment Program CARF Manual

Loaded 2021-2022 Changes in Sections 1-2 of the Behavioral Health Program CARF Manual

Modified Region Master for easier use when adding or modifying a region.

Modified User Maintenance screen; 1) Allowed duplicating document permissions from one user to another. 2) Allowed for giving document permissions of a user being terminated to other users before allowing existing user to be terminated.

Modified Manage Policies and/or Documents section to; 1) Allowed for adding Tags to documents which can be used to group multiple documents into a group, 2) Allowed for filtering of documents in multiple ways (All Viewable by current user, not viewable by current user, those that reviews are current, those that need review, those that are reviewable by current user, those that are checked out or checked out by current user, by region, by location and/or by tag) 3) Allowed for modifying permissions for multiple documents at one time, 4) Allowed for tagging multiple documents at one.

Loaded CARF Resources PMMI 5 Performance Improvement Worksheet.

Loaded CARF Resources PMMI 4 Outcomes Grid-Persons Served and Other Stakeholders.

Loaded CARF Resources PMMI 3 Outcomes Grid-Business.

Loaded CARF Resources PMMI 2 Developing the Plan Worksheet.

Loaded CARF CARF Resources PMMI 1 Identifying Gaps and Opportunities

Loaded 2020-2021 Changes in the CARF Sections 1-5 of the Behavioral Health Standards.

Loaded 2020-2021 Changes in Sections 1-4 of the Opioid Treatment Program CARF Manual

Loaded Technology Ongoing Assessment.

Loaded modified version of Technology Planning with 2020-2021 changes.

Added Medical Director Sample Job Description to document section.

Added Drug Overdose Policy and Procedure to document section.

Added Health and Safety Practices Grid to document section.

Added Waiting List 2 to document section.

Added Waiting List 1 to document section.

Added Telehealth Service Delivery to electronic online trainings and hardopy version loaded to document section.

Added Ransomware and HIPPA training to electronic trainings and hardcopy version loaded to document section.

Added Non-Violent Anti-Harassment Policy and Procedure to document section.

Added Technology Plan Blank Template to document section.

Added Promotion Policy And Procedure to document section.

Added Job Posting Policy And Procedure to document section.

Added Disciplinary Action Policy and Procedure to document section.

Added Staff Termination Policy and Procedure to document section.

Updated Critical Incident Report Summary with new/modified changes mandated by CARF.

Multiple upgrades to look and feel along with functionality to Critical Incident Report Individual Review

1. Added a Save Segmentation Feature. If you click on the Checkbox next to Save Segmentation, the next time you enter the screen, the same Segmentation Selection criteria will be saved and displayed.
2. Added Save State function, anything from the Results Section (sort order, per page and search values) will be saved for two hours, so if you leave the screen and come back you will not have to re-enter that data.
3. Added Response dropdown filter. This drop down has two possibilities; the default of "All" which displays all critical incidents or "Response Pending", which will only show incidents that have not been responded to or have a Follow-Up pending that hasn't been followed-up yet.
4. Search Box, the search box will search Report Number, Incident Types, Submitted By, Description of Incident and, if your organization doesn't use Locations, it will search locations and then display only those matching the search criteria in the grid. 5) Added Excel and PDF exports of the data existing in the grid. Only the information in the grid will be exported to Excel or PDF. If you want to see everything on all pages of the grid you need to change the Per Page dropdown value to Show All before clicking the Excel or PDF button.
5. Added fields Submitted By and Response Date to the grid. If data is too wide to be displayed, there will be some fields hidden that can be viewed by clicking on the Green Plus sign at the beginning of the row.

Activated electronic version of Selection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Training.

Activated electronic version of Technology and System Planning Training.

Loaded hardcopy version of Safely Don, Use and Remove Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Training to Documents under Training.

Added Summary By Test Report. It is available off of the Management> Training Reports Menu.

Loaded hardcopy version of Selection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Training to Documents under Training

Loaded hardcopy version of Technology and System Planning Training to Documents under Training.

Updated Training Schedule page to allow for searching titles, exporting data and sorting the trainings in any order desired for display to personnel.

New Document: Group 3: I.9.07 Disclosure of Information Tracking Form (Sample 3). Sample of a log that can be used for tracking how information is released.

New Document: Group 3: I.9.06 Disclosure of Information Tracking Form (Sample 2). Sample of a log that can be used for tracking how information is released.

New Document: Group Two: H.8.07 Disclosure of Information Tracking Form (Sample 3). Sample of a log that can be used for tracking how information is released.

Group Two: H.8.06 Disclosure of Information Tracking Form – (Sample 2). Sample of a log that can be used for tracking how information is released.

New Document: Group One: J.11.12 Sample Business Associate Agreement. This is a sample of a Business Associate Agreement provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

New Document: Group One: J.11.08 Audit Review Capabilities. The intent of the Audit Review Policy and Procedure is to ensure all servers are configured according to security standards.

New Document: Group One: J.11.07 Destruction and Release Log Form. This form is used to log the disposal of inactive records and accounting release of confidential information.

New Document: Group One: J.11.06 IT Services Change Control Request Form. Change Control is meant to ensure that all changes made are managed, verified, approved, and tracked in the following areas: new technology, software updates, operating system updates, and firmware updates.

New Document: Group One: J.11.05 Website Privacy Policy. This document provides an example of a website privacy policy notification that should be included on your organization’s website.

New Document: Group One: J.11.04 Bring Your Own Device Acknowledgement Form. This document provides a sample acknowledgement form for the use of personnel owned devices for business use.

New Document: Group One: J.11.03 Personnel Acknowledgement Form. This document provides an example of a personnel acknowledgement form that should be provided to all staff members regarding the organization’s technology policies.

Updated Document: Group One: J.11.1 Acceptable Use of Technology Policy and Procedures. This document provides an example of technology policy and procedures.

Added ability to set up custom incident lists by Region and/or Location.

New Document: Group Three: I. Quality Records Review, 9.05 Disclosure of Information Tracking Form. Sample of a log that can be used for tracking how information is released.

New Document: Group Two: H. Quality Records Review, 8.05 Disclosure of Information Tracking Form. Sample of a log that can be used for tracking how information is released.

Updated Document: Group Three: C. Individual Plan 3.07 Personal Safety Plan. Sample personal safety plan for clients considered at risk for suicide or self-harm.

Updated Document: Group Two: C. Individual Plan 3.07 Personal Safety Plan. Sample personal safety plan for clients considered at risk for suicide or self-harm.

Uploaded Health and Safety Practices Checklist

Added Security Option -Receive Incident Report Response Emails- to allow an individual to receive an email when a Critical Incident Report has had a response added to it.

Added Aggression or Violence, Unauthorized Weapon, Wandering, Elopement, Alleged Sexual Assault, Alleged Criminal Activity, Natural Disaster, Weather Event, Biohazard Accident and Drug Possession to the list of Stock Critical Incidents per the 2019-2020 CARF Standards..

Loaded 2019-2020 Changes in Sections 1-4 of the Opioid Treatment Program CARF Manual

Loaded 2019-2020 Changes in the CARF Sections 1-5 of the Behavioral Health Standards.

Updated the Clinical Supervision Policy and Procedure and the Clinical Supervision FORM to meet the new standards for 2019 and forward. - Please Note - This is a majorly missed standard when being surveyed. Please ensure you take note of these two items and use them.

Updated Alcohol and/or Drug Screening of Personnel Policy and Procedures to meet the new standards for 2019 and forward.

Updated Smoking and Tobacco Use Policy to meet the new standrds for 2019 and forward.

Updated Weapon-Free Workplace Policy and Procedures to meet the new standards for 2019 forward.

Updated Drug Screening Procedure of Persons Served Document to meet the new standards for 2019 and forward.

Added certificates for Oklahoma CEU's.

Added Critical Incident Report: Incident Count By Location Report.

Added accessibility question and updated look and feel of Community Stakeholder Survey.

Added ability to search critical incidents based on Incident Report Number.

Updated look and feel of Personnel Survey Report.

Updated look and feel of Client Survey Report.

Modified Incident Grid Display and Incident Email Notification to Display Incident Type

Upgraded Training Summary and Archived Training Summary to add new options and print features.

Added Percentages, Number of Days Filed Greater Than One Day and Pie and Bar Charts to Critical Incident Report Summary Report.

Added ability for subscribers to upload a file during a response to a critical incident report.

Uploaded Sample policy and procedure for Organizational Fundraising for organizations that directly solicit financial support in connection with any program seeking accreditation.

Upgraded Sample Adult Psychosocial Assessment for clarity.

Updated Sample Complaint Handout/Procedure.

Updated Code of Conduct/Ethics to comply with modifications in the 2018-2019 Standards.

Uploaded 2018-2019 Changes in the CARF sections 1-5 OF The Opioid Treatment Standards

Uploaded 2018-2019 Changes in the CARF sections 1-5 OF The Behavioral Health Standards

Updated Add/Modify User Page to allow for Search/Filtering by name. Added Duplicate feature which allows subscriber to create a new user profile from an existing profile that contains the security options desired for the new profile.

Updated Custom Training Entry to allow for easier use, ability to archive trainings and ability to search for trainings by name.

Uploaded Modified version of Screening and Access to Services Updated for Behavioral Health

Uploaded template document for Federal Funding and Corporate Compliance for LEIE

Modified Chart No. label on Critical Incident Reporting to be Chart/Client No.

Removed Social Security number from Critical Incident Reporting. Removed all SSAN's from database.

Many pages updated to be mobile friendly

Increased size limit of documents that can be attached to critical incident reports

Made Menu System customizable by each user when logged in

Modified Admin Section to not require multiple log ins

Modified Menu System to allow for a more intuitive experience and add room for Client/Patient Menu Items

Added Personnel Grievance Entry

Added Client Grievance Entry

Uploaded 2017-2018 CHANGES IN THE CARF STANDARDS SECTION ONE ASPIRE-ALL MANUALS

Uploaded 2017-2018 CHANGES IN SECTIONS 1-4 OF THE OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM CARF MANUAL

Uploaded 2017-2018 CHANGES IN THE CARF SECTIONS 1-5 OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STANDARDS

Added optional address field to location screen.

Uploaded 2016-2017 CHANGES IN THE CARF STANDARDS SECTION ONE ASPIRE-ALL MANUALS

Uploaded 2016-2017 CHANGES IN SECTIONS 1-4 OF THE OPIOID TREATMENT PROGRAM CARF MANUAL

Uploaded 2016-2017 CHANGES IN THE CARF SECTIONS 1-5 OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STANDARDS

Update outdated links in Confidential Information Dissemination Policy.

Update Series 1 Confidentiality Training (hard copy) to correct HIPAA typos.

Upload Opioid Treatment 2015-2016 Changes Document

Upload Behavioral Health 2015-2016 Changes Document

Modified critical incident response process so entire report is able to be viewed from the response screen.

Added ability to remove discontinued critical incident categories.

Added ability to select all incidents in a given category/time period for review from the Critical Incident Summary Report.

Expanded Critical Incident Reporting System to handle regions that can be used for grouping locations. Added filters to Individual Reporting and Group Summary Reporting so reports could be selected and/or grouped by locations and/or regions.

Uploaded Corporate Compliance Training. Training Schedule is set to Do Not Take so as to not interfere with any subscribers who have loaded customized trainings for this category. If your organization wants to have staff take this training, please modify on your Schedule Training Page to do so.

Add Sample Job Description for Corporate Compliance Officer - Group One: Aspire to Excellence: Section I. Human Resources (Implement the Plan): Document 10.11

Added 2014-2015 CARF Opioid Treatment - Changes Document. (Document can be found under Documents>GROUP FOUR: CARF DOCUMENT CHANGES)

Added 2014-2015 CARF Behavioral Health - Changes Document. (Document can be found under Documents>GROUP FOUR: CARF DOCUMENT CHANGES)

Added 2014-2015 CARF Aspire to Excellence - Changes Document. (Document can be found under Documents>GROUP FOUR: CARF DOCUMENT CHANGES)

Added ability to enter custom critical incident types.

Uploaded Corporate Compliance Training into Documents Section.

Uploaded paper version of online electronic Stakeholder Survey

Added ability to enter Customized Trainings online at Account> Administration> Manage Custom Trainings

Added a Complaint/Grievance Form to the documents section.

Added ability to generate Client Survey passwords that can be used multiple times with an expiration date option.

Added 2013-2014 CARF Opioid Treatment - Changes Document. (Document can be found under Documents>GROUP FOUR: CARF DOCUMENT CHANGES)

Added 2013-2014 CARF Behavioral Health - Changes Document. (Document can be found under Documents>GROUP FOUR: CARF DOCUMENT CHANGES)

Added 2013-2014 CARF Aspire to Excellence - Changes Document. (Document can be found under Documents>GROUP FOUR: CARF DOCUMENT CHANGES)

Uploaded two sample Social Media Policies. (Group One - Aspire to Excellence - Section G -Risk Management)

Uploaded a second Media Relations Sample Policy. (Group One - Aspire to Excellence - Section G -Risk Management)

Added Electronic and Paper Versions of Client Entrance and Exit Surveys to website.

Moved 2.0 into full production dropping previous version completely from the Internet.

Added Reclassify Report option for Safety/Security Officers so that a critical incident can have it's status changed from Active to Test or Duplicate so it will not count in Summary Report. Also, now allows for the Incident Type to be changed by The Safety/Security Officer.

Allowed for clearing of Response requiring follow ups in Critical Incident Reporting System.

Uploaded Media Relations Policy.

Corrected two missing questions from hard copy version of Employee Survey.

2.0 / Added Staff Job Description Review Report so a list can be viewed and/or printed detailing that staff members have reviewed their Job Descriptions.

2.0 / Added ability for Administrators to have all staff members routed to Accreditation Now 2.0. Administrators can now email Accreditation Now and we can update your account so your staff will always be using the new system.

Moved Infection Control Training from Optional to Required.

2.0 / Corrected loading error on Critical Incident Report Entry Screen.

2.0 / Corrected problem with Technical Support and Information Email Pages not working properly.

2.0 / Corrected problem with expired trainings showing up under trainings to be taken.

2.0 / Corrected location dropdown error when logging in with User Template Information.

Modified www.accreditationnow.com Home Page to announce 2.0 and provide a Login Button to take user directly to new version.

2.0 / Enabled Community Stakeholder Survey Print Button

Updated Accessibility Plan and uploaded to document section.

Implemented BETA Accreditation Now 2.0 for testing.

Updated Risk Management Plan to include a Status for all - 'Strategies to Migrate Risks'.

Activated Unique Needs of Persons Served Trainings (Series I and II).

Activated Customer Service Trainings (Series I and II).

Activated Critical Incident Reporting Training.

Added 2012-2013 CARF Opioid Treatment - Changes Document.

Added 2012-2013 CARF Behavioral Health - Changes Document.

Added 2012-2013 CARF Aspire to Excellence - Changes Document.

Revised Sample Cultural Competence and Diversity Plan to include a Status Box.

Uploaded revised About Section One: Aspire to Excellence Document.

Revised and Uploaded Risk Reduction and Critical Incident Reporting Policy for Large Organizations.

Revised and Uploaded Risk Reduction and Critical Incident Reporting Policy for Small to Medium Organizations.

Uploaded training for Critical Incident Reporting to the Document Section.

Uploaded Unique Needs of Persons Served Trainings (Series I and II) to Document Section.

Uploaded Customer Service Trainings (Series I and II) to Document Section.

Uploaded Revised Corporate Compliance Policy - Added verbiage to indicate an investigation would be initiated within three days of receiving a report regarding an alleged incident.

Added Sexual Assault to the list of possible Critical Incidents.

Added ability to select up to 5 recipients for Critical Incident Emails.

Added 2011-2012 CARF Opioid Treatment - Changes Document.

Added 2011-2012 CARF Behavioral Health - Changes Document.

Added 2011-2012 CARF Aspire to Excellence - Changes Document.

Added 2010-2011 CARF Opioid Treatment - Changes Document.

Added 2010-2011 CARF Behavioral Health - Changes Document.

Added 2010-2011 CARF Aspire to Excellence - Changes Document.

Modified Annual Budget Policy Template with 2010-2011 updates.

Modified Sample Code of Conduct/Ethics with 2010-2011 updates.

Added 2009-2010 CARF Opioid Treatment - Changes Document.

Added 2009-2010 CARF Behavioral Health - Changes Document.

Added 2009-2010 CARF Aspire to Excellence - Changes Document.

Omni Form: Transitional Plan 2: A revised version of our Transitional Plan is now available in the document section on our site. It is in the Group Six: Electronic Clinical Forms (Document # 1.07) The revisions were made to assist organizations in meeting the standards for transition planning in a manner that is consistent with effective and realistic treatment.

Omni Form: Adult Psychosocial Assessment 2: A revised version of our Adult Psychosocial Assessment is now available in the document section on our site. It is in the Group Six: Electronic Clinical Forms (Document # 1.06) The revisions include removing most of the medical assessment section that would be more appropriate for medical personnel to collect, some significant changes to the cultural background section, and some minor changes in formatting is several sections.

Strategic Planning Policy and Procedure: A sample policy and procedure related to the strategic planning requirements is now available in the document section on the site. It is in the ASPIRE Section One, under Strategic Planning (Document #: 4.01).

Contract Employee Policy and Procedure: A sample policy and procedure related to the human resource requirements for contract employees is now available in the document section on the site. It is in the ASPIRE Section One, under Human Resources (Document #: 10.20).

Community Stakeholder Survey - We have added a Community Stakeholder Survey to the site.

Added the ability to log into the Corporate Compliance Reporting via a link that can be accessed from a Subscriber Website. To use this feature you simply create a link on your website in the following format....... https://www.accreditationnow.com/load_page.asp?page=quiz/client_login.asp?display=compliance&login=10060000&pass=ENTER ......where you enter your Subscriber ID Number rather than10060000 and your anonymous password rather than ENTER.

Modified Client Satisfaction Surveys so they all contain an addititional section called Safety. Modified online electronic versions of Surveys so they also contain the new section.

Corrected document versions of Employee Feedback Survey so it matched the online version. Document versions did not have a 7 - Does Not Apply/Not Applicable like our online version has.

Please Note: Our document page has been converted over to the CARF ASPIRE model that is now Section One in all CARF standards Manual, beginning July 1, 2008. This reorganization also included many edits and revisions of Section One documents to bring them up to the 2008-2009 standards. In addition, the order of the documents has been revised to provide more clarity and consistency with the standards.

Changes in the CARF standards for 2008-2009 Opioid Treatment Programs: This document outlines each of the changes made in sections two through four of the CARF Opioid Treatment Program Standards Manual and provides tips and suggestions for implementing changes within your organization.

Changes in the CARF standards for 2008-2009 Behavioral Health: This document outlines each of the changes made in sections two through five of the CARF Behavioral Health Standards Manual and provides tips and suggestions for implementing the changes within your organization.

Changes in the CARF standards for 2008-2009 ASPIRE: Section One: This document outlines each of the changes made in section one of ALL CARF accreditation manuals. These standards relate to the administrative functions of an organization. It provides tips and suggestions for implementing the changes within your organization.

Sample Organizational Chart: This document provides an example of what an organizational chart might look like for a small organization, or a section of a chart for a large organization. An organizational chart is important for supporting the CARF leadership standards regarding the roles and responsibilities of management, and supervisory lines of authority.

Contract Employee Overview: This document provides an overview and discussion about the interaction of IRS and Department of Labor legal guidelines for contract employees with the requirements of the CARF standards regarding contract employees.

Employee Grievance Policy: This document provides a sample of procedures related to an employee grievance process within an organization. It is intended as a sample only and does not ensure that all federal, state, and/or local labor laws are being met within the sample.

Sample Performance Evaluation Form with Embedded Job Description: This document takes our Performance Evaluation Form and embeds our sample job description in to the form to demonstrate a best practices approach to function and competency based human resource evaluation.

Sample Job Description: This document is intended to provide a sample of a job description that would clearly meet the CARF standards of identifying job functions and competencies of an employee and would be used within the performance evaluation form and process.

A users forum has been created to discuss issues related to the North Carolina accreditation mandate. By using this forum, Accreditation Now subscribers who are based in North Carolina can discuss common issues related to obtaining accreditation, and assist Accreditation Now in providing resources that are specific to the state mandate. We encourage other states who have mandates to suggest a state forum to help in meeting mandates through the identification of targeted resources that we can provide to support your accreditation. To access the forum click on the button on the left side of your screen that says Forum.

If you are a small to medium organization and currently have health and safety policy, procedures, and forms in place that were developed through the use of our comprehensive health and safety documents, we suggest you review the new documents and seek to tweak and/or improve your current documents and practices through a review process. Many of these documents have been updated, in terms of practices, since the original comprehensive documents were developed. In addition, there are three new documents in this group which are emergency information forms for employees and persons served, and Safety Officer Responsibilities and Job Duties.

The new documents that have been posted are as follows:

Organizational Health and Safety (Small to Medium Organizations)

External Inspection (Small to Medium Organizations)

Self-Inspection (Small to Medium Organizations)

Emergency Information Dissemination (Small to Medium Organizations)

Emergency Equipment and First Aid (Small to Medium Organizations)

Safety Drills and Procedures (Small to Medium Organizations)

Medical Emergencies (Small to Medium Organizations)

Evacuation and Fires (Small to Medium Organizations)

Severe Weather and Natural Disasters (Small to Medium Organizations)

Bomb Threats (Small to Medium Organizations)

Workplace Violence (Small to Medium Organizations)

Power Failures (Small to Medium Organizations)

Risk Reduction and Critical Incident (Small to Medium Organizations)

Person Served Emergency Information Form (For All Size Organizations)

Employee Emergency Information Form (For All Size Organizations)

Safety Officer Responsibilities and Job Duties (For All Size Organizations)

New Document. Clinical Supervision Policy and Procedure. This sample document provides a comprehensive approach to clinical supervision in a variety of settings. It is designed to increase consistency and integration of clinical supervision, the employee performance evaluation process, the peer/case record review process, and completion of the actual performance evaluation forms. It is located in both Group Two: Behavioral Health General Program Standards Section: Section A: Program Structure And Staffing Document 1.10 and Group Three: Opioid Treatment General Program Standards: Section A: Program Structure And Staffing Document 1.10.

Revised Document. Employee Performance Evaluation Form. This revised document/form now provides a best practices template for conducting employee performance evaluations that, if completed correctly, exceeds the requirements of the CARF standards. It is located in Group One: Business Practices Section: Criterion F: Human Resources Document 7.03.

New Document. Performance Evaluation Policy and Procedure. This document was created to assist organizations in standardizing their performance evaluation process consistent with the CARF standards and human resource best practices. It is designed for use with our recently revised Employee Performance Evaluation form. It is located in Group One: Business Practices Section: Criterion F: Human Resources Document 7.12.

Added feature so that once a user logs in the Accreditation Now Home Page becomes a Menu List of items user has access to.

Added the What's New Menu Option.