Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) recently announced that Hospice of the Northwest has achieved accreditation for another three years.
What is CHAP Accreditation?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires all certified hospice providers to meet certain criteria, called the Conditions of Participation. CHAP is an independent nonprofit with its own Standards of Excellence that exceed CMS requirements. As an accrediting body, CHAP evaluates hospice providers and awards accreditation to those that meet the highest nationally recognized standards for quality care.
Areas of Hospice Excellence
Hospice of the Northwest voluntarily undergoes an intensive, unannounced survey every three years. In March, a CHAP surveyor spent five days onsite, evaluating the care we provide through a series of home visits, patient chart reviews, and staff interviews. The surveyor specifically highlighted two areas of excellence:
- Volunteer Program: Described as “fabulous,” Hospice of the Northwest’s robust team of 75+ volunteers provided over 4,000 hours of patient care in 2025. This represents 10.5% of the total care hours provided, more than double the 5% Medicare requirement. Learn more about volunteering with Hospice of the Northwest.
- Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) Meetings: Praised as “top notch,” weekly IDT meetings bring hospice nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors, volunteers, and physicians together to review each patient’s current needs. The surveyor was especially impressed with the level of interdisciplinary participation and physician engagement with the hospice team.
The surveyor confirmed that we meet the CHAP Standards of Excellence and recommended accreditation, which was later approved by the CHAP Board of Review.
What CHAP Accreditation Means for Patients
Simply put, CHAP accreditation means Hospice of the Northwest meets the highest nationally recognized standards—and that patients and families can expect to receive care that goes beyond basic Medicare requirements.
“People put an incredible amount of trust in us during a very difficult and meaningful time in their lives,” said Bob Laws, Executive Director of Hospice of the Northwest. “Our patients deserve the best end-of-life care possible, and this recognition reflects the exceptional care our team provides every day.”
Learn more about the award-winning care we provide at Hospice of the Northwest. If you have questions about whether hospice care is appropriate for you or someone you love, please call us any time at 360-814-5550.