Established in 1999, the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) is a membership-based organization comprised primarily of acute care and critical access hospitals. CIHQ is a CMS approved deeming authority for acute care hospitals. Our accreditation program is designed to assure that hospitals comply with the Medicare Conditions of Participation and improve the quality of care, treatment, and service in their communities. CIHQ' Accreditation Resource Services (ARS) is dedicated to helping hospitals navigate the complexities of the regulatory environment, whether your hospital is certified directly by CMS or deemed by an accrediting organization. Our purpose is to: ADVOCATE on behalf of our members in shaping the accreditation and regulatory environment by working with CMS in the development of standards and regulations. EDUCATE members on standards, regulations, and the survey process and encourage the professional growth of individuals in the field of healthcare accreditation through national certification. ADVISE members on changes to standards and regulations and the impact on their organization. ASSIST members in determining their compliance to accreditation standards and CMS certification requirements. IMPROVE the ability of our members to successfully meet the challenges of today’s regulatory environment.