AAAHC To Begin International Accreditation
With Costa Rica
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory
Health Care (AAAHC) has received board
approval to extend its accreditation
services internationally, beginning with
Costa Rica in early 2010.
John Burke of AAAHC explains,” With the
advent of medical tourism and the
significant number of Americans living
abroad, we feel it is important to offer
assurances that ambulatory medical services
in other countries operate at a level
consistent with U.S. ambulatory
organizations that are AAAHC accredited. Our
unique approach to ambulatory healthcare
accreditation, which includes a peer–based
survey process, comprehensive education
programs and internationally recognized
standards, will enable us to work closely
with these health centres to assure they are
providing high-quality care.”
As the US’s leading ambulatory healthcare
accrediting organization with more than 4500
ambulatory healthcare organizations
accredited nationwide, the AAAHC will work
initially with outpatient health centers in
Costa Rica that voluntarily wish to pursue
accreditation to assure access to quality
healthcare services. Accreditation for
ambulatory organizations in other countries
will be added later.
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory
Health Care, also known as AAAHC or the
Accreditation Association, is a private,
non-profit organization formed in 1979. It
develops standards to advance and promote
patient safety, quality and value for
ambulatory health care through peer-based
accreditation processes, education and
research. Accreditation is ultimately
awarded to organizations that are found to
be in compliance with the Accreditation
Association standards.
The Accreditation Association currently
accredits over 4,600 organizations in a wide
variety of ambulatory health care settings,
including ambulatory and office based
surgery centers, managed care organizations,
as well as Indian and student health
centers, among others. With a single focus
on the ambulatory care community, the
Accreditation Association offers
organizations a cost-effective, flexible and
collaborative approach to accreditation.
Accreditation is a voluntary process through
which an ambulatory health care 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 environment. It
is this self-analysis; peer review and
consultation that ultimately helps an
organization improve its care and services.
The Certificate of Accreditation is a symbol
to others that an organization has committed
to providing high-quality care and that it
has demonstrated its commitment by measuring
up to the Accreditation Association's high
standards. It sends signals of confidence to
the community it serves and increases an
organization's competitive edge in the
marketplace. In addition, accreditation may
satisfy certain regulatory requirements for
licensure or certification. |
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