EK HEALTH

by Richard Thompson, MD
EK Health Services' Chief Medical Office

EK Health is pleased to announce that it is once again seeking URAC accreditation. EK Health has held URAC’s Workers’ Compensation Utilization Management Accreditation since 2005, and we proudly place the URAC seal on our publications and products. URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is a leader in promoting health care quality through accreditation and certification programs. Since its beginning in 1990, URAC’s standards have kept pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a mark of distinction for health care organizations to demonstrate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in setting meaningful standards for the health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

EK Health has completed the first two phases of the accreditation process, which entails a rigorous review occurring in four total phases. The initial phase "Building the Application" consists of completing the application forms and supplying supporting documentation, and usually takes several months. Phase two is the Desktop Review, in which documentation is analyzed in relation to the URAC standards by one or more full-time URAC reviewers. EK Health must still complete phase three, the Onsite Review, during which the accreditation review team will verify compliance with the standards, conduct interviews with management, and observe staff performing its duties. Finally, the last phase in the accreditation process is a review by two URAC committees that include professionals from a variety of areas in health care as well as industry experts selected from or chosen by URAC's member organizations. This committee makes the accreditation recommendation to URAC’s Executive Committee, who makes the final accreditation determination.

EK Health is very excited to have this opportunity to submit our operations, process and procedures for objective and impartial evaluation. The URAC accreditation process demonstrates our commitment to quality services and serves as a framework to improve business processes, and represents what we work so hard at every day.