Washington, DC, Sept. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- URAC, the nation’s largest and most experienced telehealth accreditor, today announced its updated telehealth accreditation standards (v 3.0), created with extensive input from its industry-leading advisory group. URAC’s new program addresses the current, rapid growth of telehealth during COVID-19 while being forward-looking in order to measure, identify and support the highest quality telehealth services in the future with a focus on quality, privacy and security.
URAC engaged with a broad range of industry experts such as providers, academic, employers and payers to update their telehealth accreditation standards, including:
- The American Telemedicine Association
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
- Teladoc Health/InTouch Health
- UC San Diego Health
- Consumer Technology Association
- US Office of Personal Management
- Doctor on Demand
- Washington University School of Medicine
- Children’s National Hospital
- Humana
- National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
- Jones Day
“As a physician, I can say that we are proud to work with national telehealth leaders in updating our standards to drive digital health into the future,” said Shawn Griffin, M.D., URAC’s President and CEO. “These standards are more than simply policy recommendations or new measures; they reflect the best comprehensive building blocks for high-quality organizations to put patients at the center of quality care. URAC recognizes that millions of remote patient visits have been provided by our accredited organizations during the pandemic and know that updating our standards will improve the care delivered today and in the future. The URAC Gold Star on a telehealth program means quality and not just convenience.”
URAC’s updated Telehealth Accreditation Program keeps the patient at the center. URAC’s aim is to ensure that patient care offered through a telehealth visit meets the same standards as that provided during an in-person visit. URAC’s telehealth accreditation program demonstrates how providers can care for patients from a distance, including patients who may struggle to access care due to financial, transportation, or familial issues. An organization receiving URAC’s Gold Star for telehealth has proven that it delivers the best in patient care for both physical and behavioral health needs. Whether being seen in person or by a virtual visit, patients can have confidence they are receiving is the highest quality care when their telehealth provider is URAC accredited. As the nation’s largest telehealth accreditor, URAC has improved the remote care received by millions of Americans during the COVID pandemic.
Teladoc Health is both an accredited organization and a member of URAC’s Telehealth Standards Advisory Committee. “Here at Teladoc Health, we have just recently acquired InTouch Health, and because of that, we now have all three of URAC’s Telehealth Accreditation Programs under our belt,” said Emily Woodard, Associate Director of Clinical Quality at Teladoc Health. “I can’t overstate how valuable the URAC accreditation is – it has helped us scale up to meet the increased need for digital health coverage during the pandemic and will guide our growth once COVID is over. Teladoc is proud of our active role in URAC’s TAP standards update.”
Based on the overwhelming interest in its telehealth accreditation program, URAC continues to grow the digital health recognition and accreditation landscape through its additional programs, Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth Support Services. Additionally, URAC just became a member of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (ISfTeH), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), with official World Health Organization support, whose goal it is to grow high-quality telehealth services worldwide.
URAC offers free, on-demand access to telehealth education and webinars via its Digital Health YouTube channel.
View all URAC's Digital Health Accreditation Programs Here >>
About URAC
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2020, URAC is the independent leader in promoting health care quality through leadership, accreditation, measurement and innovation. URAC is a non-profit organization that uses evidence-based measures and develops standards through inclusive engagement with a range of stakeholders committed to improving the quality of health care. Our portfolio of accreditation and certification programs span the health care industry, addressing digital health, health care management and operations, health plans, pharmacies, physician practices, and more. URAC accreditation is a symbol of excellence for organizations to showcase their validated commitment to quality and accountability.