Standards & Regulatory Interpretation
Members are allowed unlimited access to our in-house panel of experts by phone or email (preferred) to receive answers to questions / interpretation of accreditation standards and CMS Conditions of Participation (COP) for acute care hospitals. All inquiries are responded to within 48 – 72 hours with a clear and concise answer.

Notification of Changes to Standards and Regulations
CIHQ notifies member organizations of any new or modified accreditation standard, or CMS COP for acute care hospitals. Each alert summarizes the standard / regulation, likely impact to members, and recommends compliance strategies. Whenever possible, alerts are limited to one-page in length so that they can be quickly read and disseminated. All alerts are archived in the member’s only section of our web site for future access and reference.

Monthly Audio Conferences
Member organizations are allowed complimentary access to our highly regarded monthly audio conferences. There is no limit to the number of participants that can listen in (e.g. speaker phone).The conferences are 1 – 1.5 hours in length and address key CMS and accreditation compliance issues. Speakers are usually CIHQ faculty but outside speakers are used occasionally depending on topic expertise.

All conferences include a copy of the presentation and any associated material. The audio conference is saved as an MP3 file, and presentations are archived in the member's only section of the web site and can be accessed by members as often as they wish.

Electronic Resource Library
Member organizations are allowed unlimited access to our electronic resource library. The library holds over 350 template policies, documents, and other tools addressing accreditation standards and CMS requirements. The documents are formatted in Microsoft Word so that they can easily be downloaded and customized. The library is updated regularly with new or revised templates as requirements to standards and regulations are developed or changed.

Comprehensive Reference Library
Member organizations are allowed unlimited access to our comprehensive reference library. The library contains documents and links to a wide variety of regulatory agencies and professional organizations.

Continuing Education Resource Center
The continuing education resource center contains a wide variety of web-based education modules on accreditation and regulatory topics. Staff of member organizations have unlimited access to these courses, and can obtain continuing education credit towards professional licensure free of charge.

Annual Education Program
Member organizations are entitled to send two individuals - free of charge - to CIHQ' annual Accreditation & Quality Summit. This 1.5 day program is held each spring/summer. Members pay only travel costs. Participants can take advantage of professional development workshops, best practice information sharing, networking, and receive the latest information in quality and patient safety from experts in the field.

Review of Policies and Procedures
Member organizations are allowed access to CIHQ staff for unlimited review of major policies to assure that they meet accreditation and certification requirements. It is preferred that these documents be submitted electronically. CIHQ will review the document and – where necessary – suggest revisions to bring the policy into compliance. Most review can be accomplished within 3 – 5 business days.

Preferential Scheduling & Pricing for On-Site Support Services
CIHQ provides a wide variety of on-site support services to help members meet their accreditation and regulatory needs. Whether it involves education programs, mock surveys, or focused assessments, CIHQ staff can provide the targeted level of assistance you need. Members receive priority in scheduling of services and reduced professional fees.

* Some services provided through a collaborative agreement with Accreditation Resource Services LLC