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For more than 125 years, the American Correctional Association has championed the cause correctional effectiveness because we in corrections have a responsibility to protect from harm those who are involuntarily under our care and control. ACA has worked with every type of correctional facility to meet constitutional requirements and compliance with standards.

Why accredit your health services with ACA?

• One-stop Shopping. Agencies seeking accreditation can now accredit both their facility and health care program. This not only saves time, but money. We appreciate the fact that corrections is facing budget constraints and has limited resources to accomplish all the challenges facing corrections today.
• Performance-Based. ACA has spent the past several years updating and revising health care standards to better meet the needs of the corrections community. Performance-based standards have the unique ability to identify strengths and weaknesses in health care delivery. By supplying predetermined outcome measures, ACA health care standards give correctional leadership the information needed to make the tough decisions they face every day. Once in place, continuous data collection allows agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of their health care program over time.
• Savings to You. Agencies seeking accreditation for both their facility and their health care program can save considerably when compared with what they would normally pay for a separate health care accreditation by an independent organization. When accrediting the facility and health care program, both audits are completed together, saving facility staff time and energy in preparation. Having both audits with the same accrediting organization eases the stress of possible conflicts in wording, interpretation or philosophy. If you use a vendor to provide health services to your offender population, these standards can be incorporated into your contract language, ensuring adequate performance and quality assessment features.
• Experienced ACA Auditors/Consultants. ACA health care auditors/consultants are physicians, nurses, health administrators and other health professionals who are selected and trained by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (CAC). Those selected have a combination of health care expertise and correctional expertise.
• Independent and Impartial Accreditation. CAC is a private, nonprofit body comprised of corrections professionals. Its main responsibility is to conduct accreditation hearings to verify that agencies applying for accreditation (after an audit) comply with applicable standards. This panel review ensures that your accreditation is completely independent and impartial.
• ACA stands Behind its Accreditation. ACA is the most respected accrediting organization in corrections. When you achieve a voluntary accreditation from ACA you've earned it and we stand behind you.

For more information, contact ACA's Director of Accreditation at 1-800-ACA–JOIN, ext. 0070.