Question: If our trauma dept is currently working on accreditation, do the activities and cost of this accreditation count as community benefit?
Recommendation: The process of licensure and/or accreditation for a specific discipline of care is part of doing business and not a community benefit.
If you develop a program for the community as part of meeting the requirements for accreditation and the program meets the requirements of community benefit, then the net cost of the specific program may be reported as community benefit. The cost of accreditation and maintenance of accreditation is not community benefit.
Caution should be taken not to double count trauma costs, when reporting program costs and if the Emergency Department is also reported as subsidized health services.
(February 2024)