AseraCare Hospice earns CHAP recognition

AseraCare Hospice has received accreditation with commendation for excellence in hospice services by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP).

CHAP is an independent, nonprofit accrediting organization created in 1965 to improve the quality of community-based health care services. Accreditation assures patients and families, physicians, insurance companies and health care professionals that programs have gone beyond minimum quality levels and have met the industry's highest nationally recognized standards of excellence. The federal government recognizes CHAP-accredited organizations as certified to provide care to Medicare patients.

AseraCare Hospice completed an intensive process of self-evaluation to earn the accreditation. CHAP reviewed the organization's policies and procedures, governing body, financials and business structure and interviewed senior management. AseraCare Hospice agencies across the country continue to receive individual CHAP accreditations. Nearly half of the regional AseraCare Hospice offices are CHAP-accredited.

AseraCare Hospice also earned special commendation for Dr. James Avery's CareMatters and FamilyMatters newsletters. These publications educate patients, families, physicians and caregivers about hospice programs and services.

During the CHAP accreditation process, Avery was the national medical adviser for AseraCare Hospice. He now serves as the chief medical officer and senior vice president for Golden Living. AseraCare Hospice is a subsidiary of Golden Living.

"It's an honor for AseraCare Hospice to receive the CHAP accreditation companywide," Bob Donovan, president of AseraCare Hospice, said. "Our clinical and operations staff work very hard to provide the best quality of care and service to our patients and their loved ones. It is their commitment and dedication that allowed us to earn this distinguished recognition."

AseraCare is part of Golden Living, a provider of health care services. With 66 hospice locations and 18 home health locations in 20 states, AseraCare is one of the largest providers of hospice and home health services in the United States, serving more than 30,000 patients annually.