What is the main focus of URAC as an accreditation body?

The main focus of URAC, as an accreditation body, is to promote patient safety through quality improvement. URAC, originally known as the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission, plays a crucial role in ensuring that healthcare organizations meet high standards of care delivery. By focusing on quality improvement, URAC encourages healthcare providers to implement best practices, enhance patient outcomes, and foster accountability in the healthcare system. This overarching goal aligns with the broader objective of ensuring that patients receive safe and effective care.

While clinical competency and organizational performance are important aspects of healthcare accreditation, they are secondary to the primary focus on patient safety and quality improvement, which are integral to URAC's mission. Regulations and policies are typically established by government entities, rather than accreditation organizations like URAC, which primarily evaluates and accredits based on adherence to quality standards. Therefore, the emphasis on promoting patient safety underpins URAC's accreditation processes.