Last modified: Thursday, November 11, 2010
IU Health Center receives accreditation from AAAHC, nation's largest ambulatory care reviewer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 11, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Health Center has achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), the largest accrediting organization in the ambulatory health care field. With this successful accreditation, the IU Health Center has been distinguished from many other ambulatory care facilities by providing a safe work environment and the highest quality of care to its patients.
Status as an accredited organization means the health center has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care, as set by AAAHC, and places the center in a group with almost 5,000 other ambulatory health care organizations across the United States also accredited by AAAHC. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation and not all undergoing the on-site survey are granted accreditation, according to IU Health Center Director Hugh Jessop.
"We believe our patients deserve the best," Jessop said. "When you see our certificate of accreditation, you will know that the AAAHC, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has closely examined our facility and procedures. It means that we as an organization care enough about our patients to strive for the highest care possible."
Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by the AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by association surveyors that consist of volunteer physicians, nurses and administrators actively involved in ambulatory health care. The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.
"Going through the process challenged us to find better ways to serve our patients, and it is a constant reminder that our responsibility is to our patients here at IU and to the quality of care we provide," Jessop added.
The survey was conducted in July and evaluated 689 standards that ranged from governance and quality of care to peer review and quality management and improvement. The center will be surveyed again the summer of 2013.
AAAHC accreditation is specifically for organizations that provide diagnostic or medical care on an outpatient basis -- where an overnight stay would not be required. Among the types of ambulatory health care organizations that can seek AAAHC are ambulatory and office-based surgery centers, single and multi-specialty group practices, college health centers, dental group practices, community health centers, occupational health centers, and managed care organizations.
AAAHC, founded in 1979, is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation with almost 5,000 organizations accredited nationwide. The AAAHC accredits a variety of ambulatory health care organizations, including ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery centers, endoscopy centers, college student health centers, military health care clinics, and large medical and dental practices.
The association also serves as an advocate for the provision of high-quality health care through the development of nationally recognized standards and through its survey and accreditation programs. AAAHC accreditation is recognized as a symbol of quality by third-party payers, medical organizations, liability insurance companies, state and federal agencies and the public.
For more information or to speak with Jessop, please contact Steve Chaplin, University Communications, at 812-856-1896 or stjchap@indiana.edu.
