What does this mean?

Accreditation is a voluntary process through which an organization is able to measure the quality of its services and performance against nationally recognized standards. The accreditation process involves self-assessment by the organization, as well as a thorough review by the Accreditation Association's expert surveyors, who themselves have extensive experience in the ambulatory health care environment.

The accreditation certificate is a symbol that an organization is committed to providing high-quality health care and that it has demonstrated that commitment by measuring up to the Accreditation Association's high standards.

AAAHC Standards

The standards contained in the AAAHC Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory Health Care have been developed to encourage the voluntary attainment of high-quality care in organizations providing health care services in ambulatory settings. The standards describe characteristics that the Accreditation Association believes to be indicative of an accreditable organization.

Most standards are written in general terms to allow an organization to achieve compliance in the manner that is most compatible with its particular situation and most conducive to the attainment of high-quality patient care. Where the acceptable methods of achieving compliance with a standard are limited, the standard is written in specific terms.

All organizations seeking accreditation, regardless of name, mission statement, or primary service provided, must meet the same high standards described in the Handbook. Regardless of the type of organization surveyed, the applicable portions of the Core Standards, titled Rights of Patients, Governance, Administration, Quality of Care Provided, Quality Management and Improvement, Clinical Records and Health Information, and Facilities and Environment, will be applied to the organization seeking an accreditation survey. The Adjunct Standards, chapters 9-24, will be applied as appropriate to the services provided by the organization. For example, immediate/urgent care centers, radiation oncology centers, and occupational health centers must be in compliance with the respective Adjunct Standards for these settings in the Handbook, as well as in compliance with all Core Standards, and other Adjunct Standards, such as laboratory and radiology services, if applicable. Likewise, ambulatory surgical centers and office surgery practices must meet the Core Standards, plus the Adjunct Standards on Anesthesia and Surgical Services, as well as all other relevant Adjunct Standards. Certain large multi-specialty group practices or hospital-sponsored ambulatory health care programs may find that all of the Adjunct Standards in the Handbook will be applicable. Any questions about the applicability of the standards should be addressed to the Accreditation Association office.

The Accreditation Association welcomes comments or suggestions regarding the reasonableness or clarification of any of its standards. Any proposed revisions, deletions or additions to the Accreditation Association standards recommended by the Standards and Survey Procedures Committee are subject to a public comment period of 30 days. The Accreditation Association solicits comments from its Member organizations and other interested parties identified. The Standards and Survey Procedures Committee submits to the Accreditation Association Board of Directors for review and final approval, any recommended revisions or additions to the existing standards, all relevant comments received, and any other recommendations the committee makes in response to the comments.

Once the revisions have been approved, the next year's AAAHC Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory Health Care is revised to reflect the changes. A listing of the changes for the year can be found in Appendix A of the Handbook.

For more information go to AAAHC's website.