Our Road to National Accreditation

Embracing The Joint Commission’s Gold Standard

Sitting with The Joint Commission during the accreditation process this past June, our surveyor started the process by asking us why we, as a clinically-informed coaching company, were pursuing this process when there were no external forces pressing us to do so, the answer came easy.  First and foremost, we at LifeTutors commit ourselves to excellence and want the accountability that The Joint Commission provides. Additionally, national accreditation grants us the opportunity to be an integral part of the developing conversation around what coaching is and how we establish professionalism and oversight in this growing field. We are now poised in such a way that gives us both honor and obligation to set a standard towards ethics and quality in coaches services across the board. 

For more than 70 years, The Joint Commission (TJC) has been notably held as a global enterprise and gold standard gatekeeper of safety and quality healthcare. Through rigorous standards, unmatched knowledge and expertise, this organization holds programs and providers accountable to a zero harm standard for those served. TJC’s mission is to continuously improve healthcare and to ensure safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. Accreditation by The Joint Commission is a nationally recognized stamp of ‘above and beyond’ approval and is a noteworthy achievement in all domains.

As a clinically-informed coaching program, we voluntarily sought this internal audit and ultimate accreditation for a number of reasons. The most primary being that we are aligned with the values and mission of The Joint Commission in providing exceptional care to all those we serve, without exception. Another platform that fueled our pursuit of this exemplary accreditation was the lack of overall governing for coaching professionals. Coaching is a highly valuable and worthy service yet oversight is not present as a mandated or an accountable way for coaching services. At LifeTutors, we utilize clinical standards, evidence-based practices and a unique programming model that is effective, safe and reliable. 

What did this process look like for us? It was hard! And worth every effort. We spent 10 months learning about the standards which denote quality assurance. As we learned, we implemented these standards in areas of our programming where there was even a small gap. Our programming and systems are now fully aligned with these national standards and we continue to grow and refine our practices even as these standards evolve, embodying a culture of safety and excellence across all aspects of our operations. This once fledgling coaching company, always committed to excellence, now has the backing and validation of The Joint Commission. We are proud of this achievement beyond measure and eager to continue to build from the framework and guidance it provides.

With Gratitude,

Andrea, Erica, Katie & The Full LifeTutors Team