Accreditation

Accreditation is largely 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 a self-assessment by the organization and a thorough on-site review by the Accreditation Association’s volunteer expert surveyors. It is this self-analysis, peer review and consultation that ultimately helps an organization improve its care and services.

Why is accreditation important?

The AAAHC Certificate of Accreditation demonstrates an organization’s commitment to provide safe, high quality services to patients. It sends a signal 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, and facilitate third-party reimbursement and insurance premium reduction. In fact, the Accreditation Association has been granted “deemed status” to survey ambulatory surgery centers for Medicare by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program

Known as the leader in setting standards for excellence in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has designed the only national program recognizing quality and safety in the practice of GI endoscopy.  This program recognizes a unit’s commitment to quality endoscopy as evidenced by the adoption of ASGE and CDC guidelines relative to privileging, quality assurance, endoscopy reprocessing, and infection control and by meeting additional rigorous requirements