The Basics

The standard requires your organization to periodically evaluate its DTM program.  The criteria for that evaluation must include all of the components cited in the previous two standards.

Again, your organization no doubt has a DTM program description and/or policies and procedures that outline this evaluation process.  In addition to knowing this standard's requirements, be sure that you know how your organization goes about implementing those requirements.

Management Tips

As is the case with most of these standards, it is important both to have a policy and procedure that describes the evaluation process and substantial documentary evidence that those policies and procedures are being implemented by the organization.  Typically, the P&P requirement is satisfied either by appropriate language in the DTM program description or in policy and procedures for the P&T committee.  In many organizations, the committee itself is responsible for the evaluation, and that is our recommendation.  Placing the authority for the evaluation of the committee assures that the evaluation will be documented in the committee minutes, an appropriate way of demonstrating implementation of the program description and/or policies procedures.

URAC Accreditation Tips

This standard is a single element standard that is mandatory.

The desktop review requires only the submission of the DTM program description and/or the appropriate policies and procedures.

During the on-site review, the reviewer not only will examine committee meeting minutes to verify reassessment of the DTM program, but also will interview staff members to make sure they understand the evaluation process.