A Guide to Healthcare-Related Agencies
Brief descriptions of the organizations that affect our part of the health care industry
CMS ( www.cms.hhs.gov
)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
As of July 1, 2001, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) is now the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Their name reflects the scope of the agency’s mission - to serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. CMS ‘s main program objective is to provide access to quality care for it’s beneficiaries by expanding health care choices, improving the quality of care and outcomes, improve access for underserved populations, and protect beneficiaries from substandard care.
CDC ( www.cdc.gov
)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC is the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people by providing credible information to enhance health decisions and promote health through strong partnerships. It’s mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury and disability. The CDC is made up of 11 divisions, including:
• National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), including the Division of
Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) and the Healthcare Infection Control
Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC).
The NCID has 16 priority disease prevention areas including:
>Infectious diseases acquired in healthcare settings
>Infectious respiratory diseases
>Waterborne diseases
>Antimicrobial resistance
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Epidemiology Program Office
DHQP ( www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/ )
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion
DHQP, formerly the Hospital Infections Program (HIP) and part of the CDC, is responsible for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections/antimicrobial resistance, healthcare-related adverse events and medical errors. Services of
DHQP which address these topics include, but are not limited to:
• Investigating and responding to outbreaks, emerging infections and adverse events
• Detecting, evaluating, monitoring and responding to emerging antimicrobialresistant pathogens and infections

• Promoting patient and healthcare personnel safety
• Identifying, promoting and evaluating effective prevention interventions
The National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System (NNIS) is an integral component of DHQP. NNIS was established in 1970 and as a cooperative effort between the CDC and participating hospitals to create a national nosocomial infections database. NNIS data is used by infection control personnel as a comparative tool.
AHRQ ( www.ahrq.gov
)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The AHRQ, formerly known as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
(AHCPR), supports research to improve the quality of healthcare in a costeffective manner. From 1992 to 1996, the AHRQ developed 19 clinical practice guidelines. Of these, several have direct bearing on infection control practices.
Others include care for urinary incontinence in adults, prevention of pressure ulcers, pressure ulcer treatment and HIV infection. Over 80% of the agencies
$270 million dollar budget is awarded as grants to researchers.
NIH ( www.nih.gov
)
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health is the federal focal point of health research, with
20 separate Institutes and 7 Centers (based on medical, behavioral and research categories), most of which receive money ($23+ billion) from the U.S. government to award grants for research and support scientific programs.
JCAHO ( www.jcaho.org
)
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
JCAHO is an independent, nonprofit, voluntary agency and is currently the primary accrediting agency for a variety of healthcare facilities providing acute care, long-term care, home care, behavioral health, assisted living and ambulatory care. Collectively, JCAHO accredits approximately 20,000 healthcare facilities, the majority of which are hospitals, long-term care facilities and home health agencies. The agency enjoys deemed status with CMS, which ensures JCAHO standards meet or exceed CMS requirements for Medicare certification. However, accreditation is not currently a requirement for Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement.
NPUAP ( www.npuap.org
)
National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel
The NPUAP is an independent not-for-profit professional organization dedicated to the prevention and management of pressure ulcers. The NPUAP provides multidisciplinary leadership for improved patient outcomes in pressure ulcer prevention and management through Education, Public Policy, and Research. It serves as a resource to health care professionals, government, the public, and health care agencies.

IHI ( www.ihi.org
)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
IHI is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on the improvement of health by advancing the quality and value of health care. The focus is on positive changes in safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.
IHI holds conferences and coordinates “collaboratives,” groups of hospitals coming together for a short period of time to address common problems. The
Institute stresses bold advances and aggressive goals.
IOM ( www.iom.edu
)
Institute of Medicine
The IOM is one of four organizations that make up The National Academies, independent committees of experts in science and technology that serve the
Academies pro bono . The nation turns to the IOM for science-based advice on matters of biomedical science, medicine, and health. The IOM provides a vital service by working outside the framework of government to ensure scientifically informed analysis and independent guidance. The IOM provides unbiased, evidence-based, and authoritative information and advice concerning health and science policy to policy-makers, professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at large.
ANA ( www.nursingworld.org
)
American Nurses Association
The ANA represents the nation’s entire registered nurse population of 2.6 million nurses and is the strongest voice in nursing today. Since 1974, the ANA has recognized nurses whose dedication and achievements have significantly affected the nursing profession.
ANCC ( www.nursingworld.org/ancc/
American Nurses Credentialing Center
The ANCC mission is to promote excellence in nursing and health care through credentialing programs and related services. Magnet hospital designation indicates that a hospital recognizes the importance of nursing and nurses to the success of the entire hospital organization. Magnet hospitals can enjoy better nurse recruitment and retention, and research has shown that magnet hospitals consistently provide a higher quality of care.