All Shands hospitals maintain standards set by the following accreditation and regulatory organizations:

• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) -

  In 2006, JCAHO rolled out a new policy of unannounced survey visits. The first in our system to receive spontaneous surveys were Shands at UF, Shands Jacksonville, Shands Live Oak, Shands Rehab Hospital, Shands Vista and Shands HomeCare. All entities received full accreditation.

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) -

  CMS conducted validation surveys for Shands at UF in the past year with good results.

• Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) -

  All Shands hospitals have been surveyed by AHCA this past year with good results.

• Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) -

  (CARF) CARF surveyed Shands Rehab Hospital in 2006 and awarded the facility nine ‘exemplary’ commendations.

• COLA (Lab Accreditation)

  Shands Medical Group of Starke's laboratory program was granted accreditation this May by COLA, the premier clinical laboratory education, consultation, and accreditation organization.

• College of American Pathologists (CAP) -

  CAP surveyed Shands AGH, Shands at UF and Shands Jacksonville this past year and renewed accreditation for all facilities. Shands Lake Shore, Shands Starke, and Shands Live Oak laboratories are all also accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).