Effective Date: October 5, 2026
These Terms of Use (the "Terms") govern your access to and use of the Trusted & Transparent™ program, the trustedandtransparent.com website, the recipient directory, and any related badges, marks, communications, materials, or services (collectively, the "Program") operated by Accushield, LLC ("Accushield," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing, using, displaying, or otherwise engaging with the Program in any way, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Program. These Terms apply to all users of the Program, including without limitation: (i) members of the public, families, residents, prospective residents, and referral partners who view the Program directory or related content ("Public Users"); (ii) senior living community operators, administrators, and staff who reference the Program in their operations ("Operators"); and (iii) home care, home health, hospice, and other care provider organizations that are evaluated by, recognized within, or participate in the Program ("Care Providers" or "Recipients").
1About the Trusted & Transparent™ Program
The Trusted & Transparent™ program is a recognition and informational program operated by Accushield that evaluates home care, home health, hospice, and other care provider organizations against a proprietary composite score derived from independent operational signals captured within the Accushield ecosystem and from third-party public data sources. The Program identifies organizations whose aggregate operational performance exceeds thresholds established by Accushield in categories including, without limitation, credential compliance activity, visit documentation, continuity of care signals, publicly available quality data, and ratings data collected through the Accushield visitor management kiosk. Recognition under the Program is organized into two tiers: the Trusted & Transparent™ recognition (the standard tier) and the Top-Rated Trusted & Transparent™ recognition (the highest tier). Both recognitions reflect the Program's assessment of an organization's aggregate operational performance at the time the score was calculated. The Program is not a government program, regulatory certification, accreditation, or endorsement.
2Important Disclaimers Regarding the Program
The following disclaimers are material to your use of the Program. Please read them carefully.
2.1The Program Is Not a Safety Certification or Guarantee.
THE TRUSTED & TRANSPARENT™ RECOGNITION IS A RECOGNITION OF AGGREGATE OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND IS NOT A CERTIFICATION, WARRANTY, GUARANTEE, OR ENDORSEMENT OF SAFETY, QUALITY, FITNESS, OR SUITABILITY OF ANY RECOGNIZED CARE PROVIDER OR OF ANY INDIVIDUAL CARE PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYED, CONTRACTED, OR OTHERWISE AFFILIATED WITH A RECOGNIZED CARE PROVIDER. ACCUSHIELD DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE SAFETY, QUALITY, OR OUTCOMES OF ANY CARE DELIVERED BY A RECOGNIZED CARE PROVIDER.
2.2The Program Does Not Verify Every Individual Care Professional.
RECOGNITION UNDER THE PROGRAM DOES NOT MEAN, IMPLY, OR CERTIFY THAT EVERY CARE PROFESSIONAL, EMPLOYEE, CONTRACTOR, OR AGENT OF A RECOGNIZED CARE PROVIDER HAS SUBMITTED CREDENTIALS TO ACCUSHIELD, HAS BEEN VERIFIED OR BACKGROUND-CHECKED BY ACCUSHIELD, OR HAS OTHERWISE BEEN INDIVIDUALLY REVIEWED OR APPROVED BY ACCUSHIELD. RECOGNIZED CARE PROVIDERS MAY EMPLOY INDIVIDUALS WHOSE CREDENTIALS HAVE NOT BEEN SUBMITTED TO OR REVIEWED BY ACCUSHIELD. THE PROGRAM REFLECTS AGGREGATE ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE INDIVIDUAL VETTING OF ANY PERSON.
2.3Due Diligence Responsibility.
Public Users, Operators, families, and any other party relying on the Program for any purpose remain solely responsible for conducting their own due diligence before engaging, hiring, referring, or admitting any Care Provider or any individual care professional. This includes, without limitation, verification of credentials, references, insurance, licensure, background checks, service contracts, and any other factors material to the engagement. Reliance on the Program alone is not a substitute for independent due diligence.
2.4Care Provider Responsibility.
Recognized Care Providers remain solely and exclusively responsible for the conduct, credentials, licensure, background, training, supervision, insurance, performance, acts, and omissions of their employees, contractors, agents, and representatives. Nothing in the Program transfers any such responsibility to Accushield, and Accushield does not assume any role as employer, supervisor, or agent of any Care Provider or care professional.
2.5Information Is Point-in-Time and Subject to Change.
The Program's recognition reflects the composite score at the time it was calculated. Operational conditions at any Care Provider may change at any time, including without limitation changes in staffing, credentialing practices, ownership, licensure, insurance, service areas, or compliance posture. Accushield does not continuously monitor every aspect of any Care Provider's operations. The appearance of a Care Provider in the Program directory at any given time does not guarantee that the Care Provider's current operational posture matches the posture at the time of the score calculation.
2.6Not Professional, Medical, or Legal Advice.
Information provided through the Program is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. The Program is not a substitute for the professional judgment of a qualified clinician, attorney, or other licensed professional. Any decisions regarding care, placement, or engagement of a Care Provider should be made in consultation with appropriate licensed professionals and based on the user's own independent assessment.
2.7Third-Party Content and Data Sources.
Portions of the Program's composite score and directory may rely on third-party data, including without limitation Google ratings, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") data, and other publicly available information. Accushield does not control, verify, or guarantee the accuracy of third-party data. Accushield is not responsible for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party data that may affect Program results.
3The Score and Methodology
Accushield reserves the sole and exclusive right to design, modify, update, or discontinue the methodology, scoring system, weighting, thresholds, categories, tiers, and criteria of the Program at any time, with or without notice. The specific weighting and formulation of the Program's composite score are proprietary and confidential. Accushield may add, remove, or adjust the signals used in the score at its sole discretion. Historical recognition does not guarantee future recognition.
4Use of Program Badges, Marks, and Materials
Subject to continued compliance with these Terms and any supplemental guidelines issued by Accushield, Accushield grants Recipients a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to display the Trusted & Transparent™ badge, mark, and associated promotional kit materials (collectively, the "Program Marks") solely to indicate the Recipient's recognition under the Program for the applicable recognition period. Recipients shall not: (i) alter, modify, or distort the Program Marks; (ii) use the Program Marks in a manner that falsely suggests sponsorship, affiliation, certification, or endorsement beyond the scope of recognition actually conferred; (iii) use the Program Marks in connection with any claim that individual care professionals have been verified by Accushield; (iv) continue displaying the Program Marks after the applicable recognition period expires or after recognition has been revoked; or (v) use the Program Marks in any manner inconsistent with any guidelines issued by Accushield. Accushield may revoke recognition and the associated license to the Program Marks at any time, with or without notice, if Accushield determines in its sole discretion that revocation is appropriate, including without limitation if the Recipient's operational performance falls below Program thresholds, if the Recipient misuses the Program Marks, if the Recipient fails to comply with these Terms, or for any other reason.
5Representations by Recipients
By accepting recognition under the Program, each Recipient represents and warrants that it: (i) is duly licensed, insured, and authorized to provide the care services it offers; (ii) complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards of care; (iii) will not use the Program recognition or Program Marks to make representations that are false, misleading, or beyond the scope of recognition actually conferred; and (iv) will respond truthfully and promptly to any inquiries from Accushield regarding its operational practices.
6Disclaimer of Warranties
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE DIRECTORY, SCORE, BADGES, MARKS, MATERIALS, AND ALL CONTENT MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PROGRAM, IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. ACCUSHIELD EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY, SECURITY, QUIET ENJOYMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING OUT OF COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. ACCUSHIELD DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PROGRAM WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.
7Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL ACCUSHIELD, ITS AFFILIATES, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, LICENSORS, OR SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUES, LOST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF GOODWILL, PERSONAL INJURY, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROGRAM, EVEN IF ACCUSHIELD HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF ACCUSHIELD AND ITS AFFILIATES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE PROGRAM SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS (US $100.00). THE EXISTENCE OF MULTIPLE CLAIMS SHALL NOT ENLARGE THIS LIMIT. THE LIMITATIONS IN THIS SECTION APPLY REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, STATUTE, OR OTHERWISE. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. If these laws apply to you, some or all of the above exclusions or limitations may not apply to you, and you may have additional rights.
8Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Accushield, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and suppliers from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, proceedings, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (i) your use of or reliance on the Program; (ii) your breach of these Terms; (iii) your violation of any applicable law or the rights of any third party; (iv) in the case of Recipients, the provision of care, services, or conduct by you or your employees, contractors, or agents; and (v) in the case of Operators, your referral, admission, or engagement decisions involving any Care Provider.
9Intellectual Property
The Program and all content, materials, software, badges, marks, logos, trade names, trade dress, methodology, scoring systems, designs, and directory data (collectively, the "Program IP") are owned by or licensed to Accushield and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws. Trusted & Transparent™ and the Program Marks are trademarks of Accushield. Except for the limited license granted in Section 4, no rights in the Program IP are granted to you by these Terms. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.
10Modifications to the Program and These Terms
Accushield reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Program, in whole or in part, at any time, with or without notice. Accushield may update these Terms at any time by posting a revised version with a new Effective Date. Your continued use of the Program after any revision constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the revised Terms, you must discontinue use of the Program.
11Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Program shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Fulton County, Georgia, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts. You waive any objection to venue in such courts.
12Severability and Entire Agreement
If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. These Terms, together with any supplemental guidelines or policies referenced herein and the Program Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Accushield regarding the Program and supersede any prior or contemporaneous agreements, representations, or communications.
13Contact
If you have questions, contact: Accushield | Trusted & Transparent™ at tnt@accushield.com or via phone at 1.800.478.5085. © 2026 Accushield, LLC. Trusted & Transparent™ is a trademark of Accushield. All rights reserved.