SDS Accreditation Update: AAAHC tailors program for office-based centers
AAAHC tailors program for office-based centers
Hospital survey program also pilot tested
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) has announced an accreditation program that is tailored to the specific needs of practices that offer office-based surgery (OBS), and it is priced to be cost-effective for smaller practices. AAAHC defines an OBS center as an organization that has no more than four physicians/dentists and no more than two operating/procedure rooms.
"All organizations, including OBS centers, must meet nationally recognized standards to be accredited by AAAHC, but as healthcare evolves, new types of organizations with different needs and perspectives have sought accreditation," said John Burke, PhD, AAAHC president and CEO. "In response, AAAHC has developed innovative programs to meet the unique needs of these organizations, including those that perform office-based surgery."
Features of the OBS Accreditation program include:
- The AAAHC OBS Standards are written as statements describing the characteristics required of an accreditable organization. The Accreditation Handbook for Office-Based Surgery with Review Guidelines is a tool that gives OBS organizations a clearer understanding of how compliance with each of the standards will be assessed.
- A reduction in accreditation fees has been made to reflect the smaller size of OBS organizations compared to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). The total cost of $3,500 includes a $775 application fee and a $2,725 fee for the onsite survey and related activities. All subsequent surveys also cost $3,500.
AAAHC also recently announced the launch of a new accreditation program for hospitals. The accreditation, which will focus on small hospitals located in rural, urban, and suburban regions in the United States, will be offered through the Accreditation Association for Hospital/Health Systems (AAHHS). AAHHS and AAAHC will have separate governing boards and function independently as operating entities of an umbrella organization, The Accreditation Association. The hospital accreditation will be launched as a pilot program in 2012.
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) has announced an accreditation program that is tailored to the specific needs of practices that offer office-based surgery (OBS), and it is priced to be cost-effective for smaller practices. AAAHC defines an OBS center as an organization that has no more than four physicians/dentists and no more than two operating/procedure rooms.Subscribe Now for Access
You have reached your article limit for the month. We hope you found our articles both enjoyable and insightful. For information on new subscriptions, product trials, alternative billing arrangements or group and site discounts please call 800-688-2421. We look forward to having you as a long-term member of the Relias Media community.