Archived Assessments
Why You Should Be Using Archived Assessments in PowerDMS
If your agency has gone through an accreditation assessment more than once, chances are you have one or more archived assessments tucked away in PowerDMS or wherever your assessment is managed. While they may not get much attention day-to-day, archived assessments can be a goldmine when you're building current files, onboarding new staff, or preparing for a mock.
Think of them as a snapshot in time — showing which policies and proofs were used, how files were built, what assessors commented on if you choose to document them within the PowerDMS assessment (see my post called Strategies for using PowerDMS for mock assessor notes in the Assessment Prep folder), and even what tasks were assigned (and by whom). If you utilize the task feature, you’ll even see tasks entered by mock assessors, team members, or yourself. It's like flipping back through a well-organized notebook from your last big exam.
The easiest and most seamless way to jump between your current and archived assessments is through the dropdown caret next to your assessment title in the main view of your PowerDMS assessment.
When you click that caret, you’ll see a list of archived assessments you have access to. Simply select one and PowerDMS will take you to that same standard in the archived version — making it easy to do a comparison without losing your place.
This is especially helpful when you’re wondering:
What did we use as proof last cycle?
How did we build this file in the past
Did we include this attachment or highlight that section?
You can’t make changes to archived assessments — they’re read-only. So once you’re done reviewing, make sure you toggle back to your active assessment. You’ll know you’re in an active assessment when the icon next to the name is green. Archived ones will be brown.
If you're trying to streamline your accreditation process or create consistency across cycles, archived assessments are one of your best (and often underused) tools. They save time, reduce rework, and help you build with confidence knowing what worked — or didn’t — before.
Who do you know that could benefit from these accreditation-friendly tips and resources? Consider sharing this link with a colleague so they can sign up:https://www.accreditationacademy.net/signup
Areaka P. Jewell
Accreditation Academy
areaka@accreditationacademy.net
(305) 360-1075
