Just as the organization’s mission and values state, Paladin, Inc. is a team full of advocates, educators, and motivators. In order to carry out its goals, Paladin is always looking for ways to improve its service to children, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Its renewed accreditation through Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is yet another example of Paladin’s growth to benefit others.
CARF is an independent, nonprofit organization that has goals that align closely with Paladin’s own mission. With Paladin striving to seek improvements in its service, knowing how important it is to provide the best for those they care for, CARF is the perfect organization to assist in that process as it promotes quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative, accreditation process.
Paladin Corporate Compliance Officer Mari Chapala offered some insight into what this accreditation means to the passionate and driven organization as CARF functions from an outsider’s perspective.
“To state it a little more simply, CARF is an organization that we work with to get a professional, outside assessment of what we do every day at Paladin in order to recognize what works well and to identify what we can improve upon,” Chapala said.
Paladin is part of the Indiana Medicaid Waiver Program, which means that the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Service requires the organization to receive and maintain accreditation through an approved, national-accrediting organization. CARF was Paladin’s choice for this specific accreditation because of its rigorous standards and experience in disability services.
“We choose to enlist the services of CARF because the organization’s comprehensive set of standards are developed by knowledgeable and experienced professionals that work in human services,” Chapala said. “They are people that know the heart of disability services, and their experience allows them to help us continue to raise the bar.”
Not only does the accreditation effectively confirm Paladin’s services at the proper level of care, but, as Chapala mentioned, it also enhances Paladin’s ability to strive for more. Chapala mentioned how every member of Paladin’s team feels great pride in the organization’s ability to maintain this accreditation, especially since it reflects its value to the community.
Chapala also discussed what this accreditation demonstrates to Paladin’s stakeholders: Paladin is always looking to improve itself for the people and community it serves.
“It is a reassurance that we are committed to continuously improving service quality,” Chapala said. “You can’t truly know our level of dedication until you get to know us. A CARF seal doesn’t tell you all you need to know about Paladin, but the fact that we hold this distinction tells you that we strive to be the best.”
According to CARF, achieving accreditation requires providers to simultaneously commit to three different areas of revision: quality improvement, focus on the unique needs of the people being served, and monitor the results of services.
Centered on enhancing the lives of the disabled community that Paladin serves, the accreditation has now been earned by Paladin for three consecutive years. CARF’s standards have forced Paladin to look with a close, detail-oriented eye at its many areas of operation.
Chapala mentioned that some of these areas that were carefully revised during this recent accreditation process included how the organization monitors health and safety, how administrative practices are maintained, and how program’s services are delivered.
“These reviews often help us to identify trends that we may not wish to continue, so we use that as an opportunity to do something better,” Chapala said.
Many would wonder how achieving this three-year accreditation was altered because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapala offered some insight into how the organization, with a duty and relentless passion to serve, made changes but didn’t miss a beat despite the challenges of restrictions, safety measures, and many other hiccups.
“Due to the restrictions of the pandemic, we participated in a digital CARF survey in the fall of 2020 instead of the traditional survey that involves CARF representatives from across the country actually coming on site,” Chapala said. “With the help of technology, we were able to hold meetings and interviews, share documentation, take the surveyors on virtual tours of our facilities and still provide that realistic experience of what and, most importantly, who Paladin is.”
Amazed by how Paladin and its courageous team overcome the challenges and setbacks presented by COVID-19, Chapala emphasized how despite the day-to-day uncertainties, the selflessness exhibited by those around her has helped the entire staff at Paladin to work stronger, better, and together through it all.
To learn more about Paladin, Inc., visit its website at www.paladin.care.
