Background
Established in 1999, the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) is a membership based organization comprised primarily of acute care and critical access hospitals, as well as home health, long term care, and ambulatory care facilities. Our purpose is to:

• ADVOCATE on behalf of our members in shaping the accreditation and regulatory environment by working with the Joint Commission and CMS in the development of standards and regulations.
  
  
• EDUCATE members on standards, regulations, and the survey process. Also, to encourage the professional growth of individuals in the field of healthcare accreditation through national certification.
  
  
• ADVISE members on changes to standards and regulations and the impact on their organization.
  
  
• ASSIST members in developing “best practice” compliance strategies, assess survey readiness, and seek appropriate clarification and appeal from the Joint Commission / CMS on errant findings and citations.
  
  
• IMPROVE the ability of our members to successfully meet the challenges of today’s regulatory environment.

Mission, Vision & Values
Mission
Our mission is to create a regulatory environment that enables healthcare organizations to effectively deliver safe, quality patient care.

Vision
CIHQ will be viewed by its members as an indispensable ally in their accreditation and regulatory compliance efforts.

Values
CIHQ seek to fulfill its Mission and Vision through living the following values:

• Integrity
  
  
• Accountability
  
  
• Collegiality and Openness
  
  
• Stewardship