AAAHC Announces Significant Changes in Standards for 2010

SKOKIE, IL — The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (Accreditation Association/AAAHC) announced today its 2010 Standards, including the addition of a new core chapter and revisions to many existing core and adjunct chapters.  The revisions will be effective with the publication in February 2010 of the 2010 Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory Health Care.
 
 The new Chapter Seven, Infection Prevention and Control, and Safety, pulls standards from several existing chapters into one chapter for the ease of the user and also includes new standards.  It is a core chapter that applies to all organizations seeking accreditation, and is the first new core chapter to be added since the first edition of the Handbook. 
 
“The new chapter emphasizes the importance that the Accreditation Association has always placed on the highest standards for infection control and safety in ambulatory organizations,” said John Burke, PH.D., AAAHC executive director.  “This new core chapter, as well as other chapters in the 2010 Handbook, reflect current best practices and are designed to enhance the high quality of patient care provided by the organizations we accredit.  Organizations seeking to achieve or maintain AAAHC Accreditation should familiarize themselves with all standards changes and additions for 2010.”
 
Medicare Deemed Status
Beginning with the 2010 Handbook, all AAAHC/Medicare deemed information, which appears in chapters throughout the Handbook, will also be contained in a separate Handbook section, entitled Policies and Procedures for Ambulatory Surgery Centers Seeking AAAHC Accreditation and Medicare Deemed Status.  This new section provides user-friendly directions and details for organizations seeking AAAHC/Medicare deemed status.  Included is a reference document demonstrating the “crosswalk” between AAAHC standards and Medicare requirements for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).