If you’re familiar with URAC’s accreditation process, you may be aware of their AccreditNet system. For those new to the URAC Accreditation world, you’re in for a treat! URAC no longer accepts paper or CD applications so AccreditNet is mandatory.

As a helpful resource, PSN helps you sort through the application documents, supported documentation, and the plethora of instructions that need to be followed to ensure a successful submission of your URAC application. Here are some helpful hints that may make the transition a little easier for you and your organization.

1. Once you receive your username and password from URAC, watch the tutorial and read the instruction manual thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the process.
2. Be aware that documentation will be needed to support both standards and substandards. In some cases only a portion of a document will apply.
3. As you familiarize yourself with each standard, look at your policies and procedures and keep a record of which documents (or portions of documents) support which standard/substandard by writing down which section of text supports which part of the standard or by electronically highlighting and labeling each section.
4. A helpful hint for highlighting documents… Using the “Comment” feature on Microsoft Word can make your job a lot easier. First, make sure you are in “Print Layout” mode. You won’t see the commenting if you’re in “Normal” mode. Then, just select the portion of text that supports the standard, go to the Insert menu (Word 2003) and click on “Comment.” A comment bubble will appear, and you simply type in the name of the standard/substandard it refers to. If you have a sentence in the middle of an already highlighted portion that applies to a different standard, create a new comment. When you select that comment, it will highlight just the portion that applies to the other standard.
5. Wise idea: Do not start loading documents onto AccreditNet until they are absolutely final. At this time, if a document needs to be replaced, it must be removed from each standard it supports before it can be deleted from the library. Then, when the edited document gets uploaded, it needs to be reattached to each standard. This can be time-consuming.
6. AccreditNet only allows nine (9) support documents to support each standard (including the substandards). Sometimes, more than nine documents are necessary to support a standard. For example, you might have 20 documents that support a standard which has four substandards.

a.    To submit all 20 documents, the best way is to create four folders, identifying each by standard/substandard number/letter (e.g., 3a), and copy supporting files into each folder. Make sure that citations are highlighted within each document file of each folder.
b.    When uploading each zip file, enter a name such as “Support Documents for Core Standard 3c” in the Document Title box. You can have as many documents in each zip file as are needed to support the standard, because it will only register as four (in this case) zip file documents.

These are only a few ways to help expedite the process, but if you have additional questions, URAC is very helpful. They can be reached at (202) 216-9010 or accreditnet@urac.org.

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Professional Services Network is an industry-leader in URAC Accreditation services. All of our URAC consultants have worked as URAC surveyors and have many years of URAC consulting experience. Feel free to contact us or learn more about our URAC Accreditation services.