Accreditation Software

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is the granting of credentials and a certification of competence. In the healthcare industry, quality healthcare is a must and medical facilities must abide by the standards of accreditation organizations. Many healthcare facilities, whether it be a physician's office, rehabilitation facility, clinical laboratory, surgical facility, or hospital will be accredited for their level of established standards in medical ethics and quality assurance when it comes to their practice. This accreditation may come from any of the number of accreditation organizations that deem a medical facility has met nationally recognized standards. Accreditation may not only refer to the standards of medical safety and practice but also sanitation and building codes as well. Facilities that are accredited are known to have a higher standard when it comes to overall quality patient care.

There are many benefits to being accredited. A large benefit to come from accreditation is that of reimbursement from the government as well as private insurance carriers for covered procedures.

CMS, or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid actively acknowledge accreditation. Accreditation allows Medicare and Medicaid to receive a better understanding of a facility's health and safety standards in order for government reimbursement. Only those health care organizations that have met CMS' Conditions will be eligible for the continued participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs. Additionally, many liability insurers will recognize accreditation facilities for their standards and provide levels of coverage not otherwise given to facilities without accreditation.

Accreditation Organizations

The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)
The AAAASF is an accreditation organization specifically for an surgical centers. The not-for-profit organization is the largest of its kind in the country with thousands of accredited facilities. They set a high standard when it comes to operating room safety, personnel, equipment, and surgeon credentials.

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
The AAAHC promotes safety and quality for ambulatory health care facilities and also accredits the US Air Force and Coast Guard. They focus primarily on the ambulatory care community.

Joint Commission
The Joint Commission provides accreditation for many different types of facilities including behavioral health care, home care, office-based surgery, and hospitals.