Courtemanche & Associates | (704)-573-4535 | Email: info@courtemanche-assocs.com
August 2025 Newsletter
In the News This Month
Greetings Everyone,
Is your organization’s discharge planning process comprehensive enough to address a smooth transition for post-hospital care? Chris Pratt, Senior Consultant & Accredited Provider Program Director’s article “Essential Concepts of the Discharge Planning Process,” provides essential strategies important to include to minimize potential re-admission and promote overall well-being.
Also, this month Denise Smith, Head of Consulting & Senior Consultant, looks at the importance of Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE). Her article, “OPPE Performance Measurement Indicators,” highlights the importance of implementing OPPE as part of an organization’s re-credentialing program while providing examples of what to include in your OPPE process.
Thank you for taking the time to read our articles. We hope this information is helpful in assisting you with accreditation and regulatory compliance needs. For future topics or require our services, please reach out to us at info@courtemanche-assocs.com. Our team is always available and eager to assist you in any way we can.
- By Denise E. Smith, RN, MS, CLNC, HACP-CMS, Head of Consulting & Senior Consultant
Survey readiness refers to a healthcare organization’s state of preparedness for an accreditation survey. Learn strategies for ongoing preparedness.
The Author
Denise Smith, RN, BS, MS, CLNC, HACP-CMS
Denise Smith is Head of Consulting & a Senior Consultant with Courtemanche & Associates. In this role she is responsible for assessing healthcare organizational readiness for licensing, certification, accreditation, and regulatory compliance. She has extensive knowledge in the requirements of The Joint Commission, DNV, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services including knowledge in their survey process, auditing approach and survey outcome determination. She also has knowledge and experience in AAAHC and other regulatory and accreditation organizations. She assists organizations with survey preparation, educational needs, post survey activities, patient safety strategies and quality improvement initiatives. Denise has more than 40 years of experience and expertise in Infection Prevention, Sterile Processing, Legal Nurse Consulting, Quality and Resource Management, Clinical Education, in acute inpatient and outpatient care settings.
- By Teri Reinhartsen, RN, MS, CPHRM
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) was established to ensure public access to emergency services regardless of ability
The Author
Teri Reinhartsen, RN, MS, CPHRM
Teri Reinhartsen is an Associate Consultant with Courtemanche and Associates with 30 years of clinical and leadership experience working in varying healthcare positions from the bedside to the Boardroom. In this role, she is responsible for assessing healthcare organizations’ readiness for licensing, accreditation, and regulatory compliance, and is trained in the survey process, auditing approach and survey outcome determination utilized by The Joint Commission, DNV, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other regulatory agencies and accrediting organizations. She assists organizations with post-survey activities, education, patient safety strategies, and quality improvement initiatives and has experience in various health care settings including acute care, behavioral health, and ambulatory care settings. Throughout her career, Teri has held a variety of Patient Safety, Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance leadership positions for several large healthcare systems. These experiences provided her with a wealth of knowledge in these areas as well as Root Cause Analysis and High Reliability Concepts. Teri has been the lead on mock surveys where she has worked and conducted educational programs related to her areas of expertise. She has also participated in and assisted in DOH/CMS investigations. Clinically, Teri has expertise in the Peri Operative area.
July Spotlight Observations
C&A is a division of SAYAS Alliance. Through our sister company Medical Resources Network, we also offer a range of legal nurse consulting services, including medical record review and analysis, medical chronologies, peer review, retention of medical experts, and adverse event and call center management. Learn more.
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The Joint Commission® is a registered trademark of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Courtemanche & Associates has no affiliation with this entity.