Market Education

Comparison of TIER and COA Standards

In addition, COA has established standards that address thirty-eight program or service-specific areas. Similar to other accreditation standards, the COA standards address three essential leadership responsibilities: planning, management, and control. Organizations are expected to implement both long-range and short-range planning processes that encompass these eleven domains. To assist organizations with the development of short-range operational planning, the TIER® Workflow System manual is designed to be linked with portions of the organization’s Annual Operational Plan. The manual addresses service delivery, human resources, environmental management, and quality management. In addition, plan outlines are provided for development of seven functional components of environmental management.

Organizations are also expected to establish operational management activities to implement their planning requirements. These activities include policies and procedures, various record systems, minutes and reports related to implementation of COA standards. To support the planning and management processes, organizations also must establish a comprehensive and systematic process to measure and evaluate organizational performance. This includes the outcome measurement of services, goals, and objectives.

The TIER® Workflow System is a foundation software comprised of four modules and a billing accounts receivable package. Design requirements for TIER Workflow targeted accreditation compliance as well as “ease of use” for end users. TIER® Workflow is also designed to help organizations achieve and maintain compliance with the COA standards and to do so with minimal use of staff time. This is accomplished via TIER®’s multiple methods for data collection, analysis and measurement related to service delivery, human resources, environmental management, and quality management modules.

Each TIER® Module includes forms for data entry, analysis, and reporting that encompass key documentation requirements for COA standards. The comparison matrix on the following pages lists current TIER® forms, drill downs, and report documents related to applicable COA standards. Other forms and reports can be easily added to TIER.

Use of this matrix can assist organizations with their pre-survey preparation activities. In addition, the list can be shared with the COA surveyor(s) at time of survey as a guide to help navigate source documents necessary for their compliance review. Organizations can expand the matrix to incorporate the additional forms and reports that they create within TIER once installed.