Accreditation, evaluation, assessment, audit…whatever you wish to call it, it strikes terror to the heart. It is like having a test-and very few people enjoy tests. But there are ways to take the sting out of an accreditation visit.
- Obtain a copy of the standards you are supposed to be following. Read them thoroughly. Send information to the various departments involved with each reculation.
- Do a self-evaluation. Do you feel you are up to these standards? Where is your institution lacking?
- Keep up all the records and procedures expected in the regulations on a daily/weekly/monthly basis as applicatble. Don't wait till the year/month/week of the visit to prepare.
- Send staff members to participate in an evaluation of another institution. Ask them to observe and report on areas they feel need improvement.
- Rehearse the expected visit with your staff. Don't give them a surprise. Let them know well in advance of the visit the expectations for performance, records keeping, room appearance, etc.
- If it is the last minute, and you find something you know needs to be fixed but cannot be at this time, document the reasons why it is the way it is and what you plan to do to take care of the problem
- During the visit, be supportive of your staff. If you are staff, be supportive of your administrators. Make sure your evaluators are well-fed and comfy. Evaluations are stress producers-for everyone.
- After the visit, be glad of the good things the evaluators have to say about your establishment. Congratulate everyone on a job well-done.
- Make a list of the things that were not stellar, and set about fixing them immediately. That way, the next evaluation you wont be facing those same problems.
- Stay on top of changing standards, new document needs, etc. so that everyone will be able to approach the next evaluation with confidence.
These steps won't make an accreditation assessment or audit completely stress-free; but they will go a long way to making it easier-and a lot friendlier.
