Barrins Bulletin
May 2026
Greetings to Our Colleagues in Behavioral Health!
Dear Readers,
May is a month that represents growth, renewal, and resilience — themes that closely reflect the work being done every day across behavioral health and human services organizations nationwide. It is also recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, bringing important attention to mental health, recovery, stigma reduction, and the need for accessible, high-quality behavioral healthcare services.
Across the industry, organizations are being innovative and demonstrating resilience as they navigate evolving regulatory requirements, workforce shortages, financial pressures, and growing expectations surrounding quality, safety, outcomes, and operational performance. At the same time, behavioral healthcare systems continue to focus on integrated care models, workforce resiliency, suicide prevention, data governance, and the responsible use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
As the behavioral health landscape continues to evolve, organizations must remain proactive, adaptable, and operationally strong while maintaining focus on patient care and staff wellbeing.
At Barrins & Associates, we remain committed to helping organizations navigate accreditation, regulatory compliance, operational improvement, and quality initiatives that support long-term organizational success.
In this edition, accreditation and regulatory insights, and practical resources to support your organization’s continued growth and readiness.
Thank you for the important work you do each day to strengthen behavioral healthcare and human services across our communities.
Best Regards,
Julia Finken
RN, BSN, MHA, CPHQ, CLSSMBB
Executive Vice President
45+ Years of Expertise, Tailored Solutions for Your Success in Behavioral Healthcare
Healthcare organizations continue to navigate evolving regulatory expectations and operational challenges. During times of transition, having access to experienced, practical support can make all the difference.
At Barrins & Associates, we remain focused on supporting organizations with knowledgeable, responsive guidance tailored to today’s complex healthcare environment.
This month, we are pleased to introduce several new additions to our consulting HBS, Barrins, and Patton team, further strengthening the depth of expertise available to the organizations we serve. Please join us in welcoming John Berry, RN, MSN, SQIL, Principal Consultant; Kathy Eichner, RN, MSN, CPHQ, CJCP, Principal Consultant; Dr. Linda M. Shepherd, DNP, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Principal Consultant; and Dr. Tracela “Traci” Vaden, MD, CPE, FACP, CPHQ, Senior Consultant.
Together, they bring extensive experience across healthcare leadership, accreditation, quality, patient safety, physician engagement, and operational improvement—further enhancing the support and insight available to organizations nationwide.
We are pleased to welcome John, Kathy, Linda, and Traci to the team and look forward to the experience, collaboration, and leadership they will bring in supporting organizations and the individuals they serve.
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A denial of accreditation is one of the most serious outcomes a behavioral health organization can face, but it is rarely sudden or unexpected. In most cases, it reflects how systems are performing over time, often in areas leaders already recognize as vulnerable…
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Joint Commission (JC)
The Joint Commission UNIFY Conference registration is open. The UNIFY Conference will be held September 30th through October 1st 2026 in Washington DC.
DNV
Healthcare Symposium:
DNV has posted links for those who would like to submit an application to host a session at their 2026 Symposium. Submission abstract information can be found on their Presentation Abstracts 2026 DNV Healthcare Symposium page. Act quickly though, we noted the email included a deadline for submission of 6/30/26, but the link mentions a 5/29/25 deadline.
If you are just interested in being a participant at the DNV fall symposium, the link to register can be found on their 2026 DNV Healthcare Symposium event summary page.
2026 DNV Innovation of the Year Award:
They also have an Innovation of the Year Award that you can seek. The Innovation of the Year email deadline is July 15, but again the link mentions 5/29 so act quickly if interested.
ACHC
ACHC has done a summary related to the CMS QSO on removal of deemed status. That might be another learning opportunity to try and understand the deemed status removal situation. Their analysis can be found on their Q&A for Complaints: Regarding Organizations with Deemed Status Accreditation.
Flooding
Make sure you have reviewed and updated your plans to reduce the potential risk and implications of flood damage. We also recommend reviewing the 2007 FEMA publication titled “Design Guide for Improving Hospital Safety in Earthquakes, Floods, and High Winds.”
Barrins & Associates provides regulatory and accreditation consulting services for the Behavioral Healthcare industry, including psychiatric hospitals and freestanding BH organizations. We specialize in providing survey preparation and continuous survey readiness services to help you provide safe and compliant care.
Founded in 1999 by Anne Barrins, former Joint Commission (JC) surveyor and succeeded by Julia Finken, former JC surveyor, Associate Director of Business Development for the Home Care Program, and Executive Director of Business Development for the Behavioral Health Care and Psychiatric Hospital Programs and Yvonne Rockwood, former Regional Associate Director for the Eastern Business Development Division at the JC for Community Behavioral Health Care Services.
Congratulations Corner
We applaud our clients who have recently and successfully completed their accreditation or regulatory survey. The achievement of such indicates an aptitude for quality and safety of care. Congratulations to your organization and staff!
Montefiore Einstein Center for Children’s Mental Health (MECCMH)
Why Choose Us?
“We found Barrins & Associates after having used other Joint Commission consultants. Right away, we knew we had the right partner for TJC readiness. Their expertise in the standards and survey process is outstanding and their collegial, problem-solving approach is a perfect match for our leadership team. We highly recommend them!”
CEO
Psychiatric Hospital
Welcome New Clients
Barrins & Associates welcomes the following new clients:
- Wenaha Group
- Talkiatry
- John Dempsey Hospital of the University of Connecticut Health Center
Are You Survey Ready?
We can assist you to achieve and sustain accreditation and regulatory compliance in adherence to the JC, DNV, CHIQ, ACHC, CARF, COA, QUAD-A, and CMS, standards for psychiatric hospitals and community behavioral health and human services providers. Inquire today about our consulting services. We continue to support your journey toward accreditation and regulatory compliance.
Inquire today about our consulting services.
We continue to support your journey toward accreditation and regulatory compliance.
888-742-4621 x 702
