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As part of our commitment to high-quality care of college students, TimelyCare recently received URAC accreditation for Telehealth. We are proud to be one of only 37 healthcare organizations, and the first virtual care provider focused exclusively on college and university students, to actively hold this accreditation status. URAC is the independent leader in promoting healthcare quality by setting high standards for clinical practice, consumer protections, performance measurement, operations infrastructure and risk management. URAC is also recognized as the leader in telehealth accreditation.
In addition to the high standards that URAC holds for healthcare quality, TimelyCare decided to pursue this accreditation because our mission is to improve the health and well-being of college students through virtual medical and mental health care. It demonstrates our team’s commitment to quality care, enhanced processes, patient safety, and improved outcomes. As a result of going through this process, we developed an organizational framework for continuous quality improvement that meets the demands of the market and exceeds industry standards.
To help provide more context on what URAC accreditation for Telehealth means to TimelyCare and our college and university partners, we’ve put together some of the most frequently asked questions about the accreditation.
Partner with a URAC-accredited virtual care provider
What is the URAC accreditation process like and how long does it take?
Before we submitted our application for accreditation, TimelyCare established and implemented organization-wide policies and procedures that addressed 41 core standards.
These standards are related to:
- Risk management
- Operations and infrastructure
- Consumer protection and empowerment
- Performance monitoring and improvement
- Telehealth operations
- Patient encounters
- Clinical care
- Reporting performance measures
It took approximately one year to complete and resulted in over 165 policies and procedures being established across the organization.
After this, our application was submitted for review to see if we met the in-person validation review standards. Once this was completed, the URAC Accreditation Committee reviewed our blinded application and made the final recommendation to award us with the Telehealth accreditation. The accreditation process took just under six months to complete.
When did TimelyCare become accredited and how long does the accreditation last?
On September 16, 2022, TimelyCare was granted full accreditation pursuant to “Telehealth, Version 3.0: Consumer-to-Provider and Provider-to-Consumer Programs.” This award is effective for three years.
How does TimelyCare keep the accreditation?
Near the renewal timeframe, we will be reviewed again to ensure that we demonstrate continued compliance with URAC’s Telehealth program standards.
In addition, we must be in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations throughout the entire period of accreditation.
We must also maintain compliance with the URAC Accreditation Application Agreement. This requires that our company provides organizational updates to URAC for material changes that may affect certain areas, such as accreditation status, notice of any federal or state actions, and complaints.
How does accreditation set TimelyCare apart within the industry?
URAC accreditation means that the care we deliver is enhanced because it’s supported by a quality improvement-oriented culture that seeks best practices. Our policy and procedure development promote patient safety and decrease risk to our partner organizations. The key performance indicators (KPIs) we established monitor our care delivery for patients to ensure best practices are maintained. As the first virtual care provider focused exclusively on college and university students to hold the URAC accreditation, it reinforces to our partner institutions (and competitors) that TimelyCare is the best-in-class virtual care provider for higher education.
How does this accreditation for Telehealth benefit TimelyCare and enhance care moving forward?
Our patient-centric playbook integrates a common language and standardized processes, policies, and metrics throughout our care network. This enables providers to move faster as they deliver quality care to patients.
By validating privacy, security, and safety technology requirements at TimelyCare, health outcomes are improved through the strategic delivery of patient access, engagement, and value. The accreditation also enhances our credibility as a healthcare provider, which in turn enhances our contracting power with providers to assure our public/private payers and stakeholders.
Looking long-term, the standards we’ve put in place as part of the accreditation process help to prevent, protect, and manage liabilities from the perspective of risk management. Additionally, TimelyCare has a roadmap for ongoing improvement to our healthcare delivery system to ensure a strong foundation for streamlined processes and systems.
How does URAC accreditation benefit colleges and universities?
At its core, URAC accreditation shows our college and university partners that we are committed to the health and well-being of their students. Through the process, we’ve demonstrated that we meet best practice standards for quality care, enhanced processes, patient safety, and improved outcomes.
When a college or university partners with TimelyCare, campus leaders can trust that students are receiving care from credentialed medical and mental health providers. They can trust that our team is engaged in the care being delivered, focused on positive health outcomes, and driven by patient satisfaction. The accreditation proves to higher education that we’re also committed to the privacy of patients.
With URAC accreditation for Telehealth secured, what’s next for TimelyCare?
As an organization, we support more than 1.5 million students in the U.S. We are committed to maintaining and improving the quality for the patients we serve. Our goal is to provide quality of service for every virtual care encounter, whether it’s emotional support or urgent medical concern. To ensure best practices with our providers, TimelyCare’s Quality Assurance Program is evaluating future accreditation opportunities we will seek to further our commitment to our patients.
If you’re looking for a best-in-class virtual health and well-being solution for your college or university, TimelyCare is trusted by over 200 institutions across the country. Contact us to get a customized quote for your school.
