ASCs are regulated in many ways. Most provide care to Medicare beneficiaries and, thus, must meet Medicare standards and be approved by the federal government. In virtually every state, ASCs must meet specific requirements and obtain a state license. To obtain Medicare certification, and usually to obtain a state license, an ASC must have an inspection conducted by a state official or a representative of an organization that the government has authorized to conduct that inspection. These inspectors actually visit the ASC to verify that it meets established standards.
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 is a leader in developing standards to advance and promote patient safety, quality and value for ambulatory health care through peer-based accreditation processes, education and research. Accreditation is awarded to organizations that are found to be in compliance with the Accreditation Association standards.
ACHC offers Ambulatory Care Accreditation for medical care provided on an outpatient basis, including diagnosis, observation, treatment, intervention, and rehabilitation services. As an internationally recognized accreditation organization with 30-plus years of experience, ACHC offers a collaborative survey approach and relevant standards designed to empower providers to enhance patient care.
An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 2,200 freestanding ambulatory care organizations. The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.
It is the mission of QUAD A to develop and implement standards of excellence to ensure the highest quality of patient care through an accreditation program that serves both the medical community and the public interest by establishing a means for measuring medical competence and providing an external source for evaluating patient safety in the ambulatory surgery setting.