AAAHC Publishes Updated Certification Handbook for Advanced Orthopaedics
Source: Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC)
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), the industry leader in ambulatory health care accreditation, announces the release of updated Standards for its three-year Advanced Orthopaedic Certification Program. The Certification Handbook for Advanced Orthopaedics, v42, provides a roadmap for the program, originally launched in 2018 and created by an expert panel of professionals in orthopaedic and complex spine procedures.
With an overarching goal of improving quality outcomes and patient care, these Standards are also streamlined for ease of implementation. The updated Handbook introduces new terminology and Standards architecture, as well as a revised references/notes section to include applicability and provide clarity to the Standard. Further enhancements include a crosswalk that offers a high-level overview of changes to the requirements to help users identify changes from the previous version.
“The Advanced Orthopaedic Certification Program helps ambulatory surgery centers validate and continue to improve the care they deliver and patient outcomes,” said Tess Poland, RN, BSN, MSN, senior vice president and chief clinical officer of AAAHC. “Through a combination of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and ongoing performance improvement strategies, the new Standards will help ASCs retain their specialty certification or achieve this distinction for the first time.”
The Standards are organized to reflect the options available to accredited facilities, which can choose from two types of advanced certification, total joint or complex spine, or pursue a combined certification that addresses both services.
“Just as Standards for AAAHC Ambulatory and Medicare Deemed Status Accreditation equip leaders with the best of what they need to operationalize quality practices, the Advanced Orthopaedic Certification Standards guide ambulatory surgery centers on their journey of excellence, ensuring survey readiness throughout the 1,095 days of the specialty certification term,” said Poland.
Standards Organization
The six chapters comprising the AAAHC Advanced Orthopaedic Certification Standards underscore effective leadership and integrated care.
“Since its inception, the Advanced Orthopaedic Certification program has helped specialty practices in total joint and complex spine surgeries set themselves apart by sharpening their focus on improving patient outcomes,” said Noel Adachi, MBA, president and CEO of AAAHC. “With updated Standards, organizations that achieve specialty certification will continue to position themselves as exemplary practices for both patients and third-party insurers.”
The new Certification Handbook for Advanced Orthopaedics, v42, will take effect July 1, 2023. Organizations should refer to their Survey Confirmation letter for Standards survey guidance. All organizations are expected to comply with the updated Standards after July 1, 2023. AAAHC will present a complimentary educational webinar entitled Expert Insights on Advanced Orthopaedics Certification: v42 Standards, to help organizations enhance their Advanced Orthopaedics Certification quality improvement efforts.
For additional information on the new Standards, visit https://www.aaahc.org/AOC42. To contact our Orthopaedic Certification Team, email: [email protected] or call 847.853.6060.
About AAAHC
Founded in 1979, AAAHC is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation, with more than 6,700 organizations accredited. We accredit a wide range of outpatient settings, including ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery facilities, endoscopy centers, student health centers, medical and dental group practices, community health centers, employer-based health clinics, retail clinics, and Indian/Tribal health centers, among others.
AAAHC advocates for the provision of high-quality health care through the development and adoption of nationally recognized standards. We provide a valuable survey experience founded on a peer-based, educational approach to onsite review. The AAAHC Certificate of Accreditation, along with specialized programs including Advanced Orthopaedic Certification and Patient-Centered Medical Home Certification, demonstrates an organization’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality services to its patients—every day of the 1,095-day accreditation cycle. AAAHC Accreditation and Certification Programs are recognized by third-party payors, medical professional associations, liability insurance companies, state and federal agencies, and the public. For more information on AAAHC, please visit www.aaahc.org
Source: Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC)
