The Joint Commission has announced its new Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Accreditation program, and for the first time is offering a Rehabilitation and Advanced Care Certification option.

The Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Accreditation program, which replaces the Long Term
Care Accreditation program, is designed to help providers achieve, maintain and demonstrate excellence in the services they provide. Both the accreditation program and certification option are the products of a year-long reinvention project which gathered input from consumers, providers, payers and other stakeholders. The reinvented standards,
survey process and certification option will be effective on July 1.

The certification option recognizes the more advanced rehabilitation services provided to patients in nursing and rehabilitation centers, while continuing to elevate the quality of care provided to all those served within their organization.