Why Accreditation?
Accreditation helps health care organizations improve their performance for the benefit of their clients and the health system. It is public recognition by a health care accreditation body of the achievement of accreditation standards by a health care organization, demonstrated through an independent external survey of that organization’s level of performance in relation to the standards.
International Accreditation Standard for Healthcare Organizations
AACI has developed standards for hospitals and other healthcare organizations, addressing key areas of organizational performance. Our standards have always been created by the people who use them. AACI has been involved in the development of standards for a range of healthcare facilities for over ten years.
Standards have been developed, piloted, used and refined for :
- hospitals
- dentists ( see below Accreditation Standard for Dental Organizations)
- outpatient specialist centers
- rehabilitation facilities
- wellness & spas
- primary care providers
- long term acute care facilities (LTAC)
- home care services
- psychiatric and behavioral facilities.
A Standard Development Committee composed of experienced physicians and healthcare managers guides the development process of the AACI standards. These standards are the basis of our accreditation services, providing a clear road-map for healthcare staff and delivering confidence to all stakeholders, including patients, board members, insurers and regulatory agencies. Information and experience related to the standards will be gathered on an ongoing basis. If a standard no longer reflects contemporary healthcare practice, commonly available technology, quality management practices, and so forth, it will be revised or deleted. It is currently anticipated that the standards will be revised and published at least every four years.
Additionally, AACI offers the unique service of a virtually immediate response to any question involving our standards or their interpretation. It is our purpose to make flexibility possible for your unique needs and maintain compliance with CMS, ISQua, WHO and other nationally and internationally recognized requirements. AACI is the only accreditation body to combine the Medicare Conditions of Participation with the management system standards including risk management consultation into a unified accreditation program. We have merged clinical requirements with some of the most recognized management standards in the world: ISO 9001, ISO 27001 and ISO 31000. But our standard reaches beyond that. Requirements including Ethical Practices, Sterilization and Decontamination, and Information Security System challenges that modern healthcare organizations are facing today, are included in our accreditation portfolio.
International Accreditation Standard for Dental Organizations
At AACI we believe that every patient accessing dental services expects excellent care regardless of the specialty, location, or size of the organization.
We have developed a comprehensive set of standards specifically for dental services. They are written to encourage facilities to develop and improve their own individual clinical services within their own scope of practice.
AACI has done a systematic review of classic and emerging relevant literature reported in dental professional publications. We have integrated these international best practice methodologies based on proven guidelines to produce a unique set of Dental Accreditation Standards. Our standard provides guidelines and requirements for restorative, orthodontic, endodontic, and other dental practices which utilize topical or nerve block techniques. The Standard also includes a special addendum covering the practice of moderate sedation (and equivalent procedural terminology) for those organizations providing these services.
NOTE: For oral surgical facilities employing deep sedation/general anesthesia, the requirements of AACI International Accreditation Standard for Healthcare Organizations are applicable. Please contact us for further information.
AACI assimilates expertise from around the globe to develop healthcare standards in line with international best practice. Our goal is to facilitate good practice and innovation by reviewing the knowledge and experience of experts, practitioners, and patients. We then help your individual dental organization achieve measurable, relevant practice goals. Our system of collaborative support helps you develop and evolve a practice which has its foundation in quality care and continually improving patient safety and satisfaction. Errors and adverse events occur in all areas of dental healthcare. These may include but are not limited to:
- medication events (both procedural and prescription)
- events based on departure from current standards of care
- events associated with improper maintenance of equipment
- events based on improperly maintained patient records
- events arising from the failure to acquire informed consent
- events caused by procedural error
- inadequate patient monitoring
- moderate sedation
- events associated with the failure to establish and maintain appropriate infection control measures
- the absence or inadequacy of patient follow-up care
- failure to follow applicable regulations and national laws.
It is imperative to prevent, mitigate, and control any of these hazards before they lead to patient and/or organizational harm. A systematic approach to risk awareness at all practice levels is also a primary goal of the AACI International Accreditation Standards for Dental Organizations. These Standards allow dental services to review themselves internally, and to be externally surveyed to facilitate continual improvement in the quality of critical process outcomes.
Accreditation Standard for Office Surgeries
In order to continually serve our stakeholders, clients and their customers we have developed this standard for office-based surgery facilities.Whether in a physician office or another procedural setting, we have developed a collaborative survey and accreditation process that will build your practice and convey a superior level of excellence to your patients.
This new standard has been prepared by AACI Standard Development Committee and contains all the Standards and notes needed for the AACI Accreditation process for office-based surgery. This standard is based on the recommendations and policy of the State of Florida Department of Health, referenced in 64B8-9.0092 Approval of Physician Office Accrediting Organizations and respected authorities who maintain and determine current and on- going standards of care.
Revision plan
Periodical revision of the standards, in reality, is an ongoing process. It is supported by current customers, patient groups, relevant surveyors, healthcare group leaders, sales staff, and any other relevant external experts. Additionally, the evolution of national and international standards, rules and regulation, and advisory body guidelines are updated and included. The AACI Standards will undergo a major revision every 4 years. If a standard no longer reflects contemporary healthcare practice, commonly available technology, quality management practices, similar, it will be revised or deleted. During the process of revision input shall be sought from current customers, patient groups, AACI surveyors and sales staff, and any other relevant external experts. Minor revisions can be initiated at any time but these shall be used only to clarify requirements or correct errors and not to introduce new requirements into the Standards.
Additionally, AACI offers the unique service of a virtually immediate response to any question involving our standards or their interpretation. AACI shall continue to evolve our standard as interested parties specify improvements, corrections are required, and influencing conditions change. AACI welcomes your advice as well. Please submit written comments, suggestions and remarks to AACI accordingly.
Please direct comments and suggestions to: info.usa@aacihealthcare.com
Major Revisions
Major revision of the standards shall be run as projects with a project plan developed prior to initiation where timelines and required resources are identified. A first draft shall be developed by the Standard Development Committee based on input that has been gathered over the period since the previous revision from surveyors and customers. The first draft document shall be circulated to internal experts. A second draft is then prepared based on the input received and this is reviewed by AACI experts.
A second draft is than circulated to stakeholders and external organizations. A third draft will then be prepared based on the stakeholder feedback. The third draft is used for piloting with at least one healthcare organization. The piloting involves reviewing the new document in a face to face meeting and identifying areas that are unclear and checking that the new requirements are reasonable and achievable. Finally, the new revision needs to be approved the Advisory Standard Committee and forwarded to the CEO for ratification before it is distributed to stakeholders.
The flow-chart details the main stages in the process.
Why AACI?
What does really make us different is our surveyors. They have been recruited and trained in line with AACI standards and guidelines. The role of the survey team is to validate the organization’s system and not to inspect it or search for the nonconformities.
Our accreditation program is disciplined and collegial. During this time our surveyors work closely with your staff to assess the current state of the organization’s clinical workflow, documentation and management processes. Our goal is to see what’s working and what needs to improve. World renown experts in medicine, patient safety, and quality management will make every survey a collaborative journey to improvement.
In a brief: We know healthcare!
How to become an accredited healthcare organization?
Flowchart of Accreditation process
- Application for accreditation
- Preassessment
- Initial Survey
- Accreditation Award
- Maintaining accreditation
- Complaints and appeals
- Suspension and withdrawal
For more information about AACI and our services in Arabic see here.
For more information send request to info.usa@aacihealthcare.com