From the Executive Director
The Joint Commission established the Ambulatory Health Care accreditation program in 1975 to encourage quality patient care in all types of freestanding ambulatory care facilities:
- Ambulatory surgery centers
- Community health centers
- Group medical practices
- Indian health clinics
- Military clinics
- Mobile services
- Multispecialty group practices
- Occupational health centers
- Office-based surgery offices
- Physician offices
- Prison health centers
- Student health services
Single Specialty Providers:
- Birthing centers
- Cardiac catheterization centers
- Dental clinics
- Dialysis centers
- Endoscopy centers
- Imaging centers
- Infusion therapy services
- Laser centers
- Lithotripsy services
- MRI centers
- Ophthalmology practices
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery centers
- Pain management centers
- Plastic surgery centers
- Podiatric clinics
- Radiation/oncology clinics
- Rehabilitation centers
- Sleep centers
- Urgent/emergency care centers
- Women's health centers
The Joint Commission's standards apply to the full range of ambulatory care providers. The above list shows the wide variety of ambulatory care organizations that seek accreditation, but is not all-inclusive.)
Joint Commission surveyors are highly qualified and experienced individuals. Some of the requirements for surveyors include at least five years of leadership experience in an ambulatory organization; and a strong educational background -- all surveyors have a master's degree and many have a doctorate degree.
Prior to performing any surveys, new surveyors attend a two-week classroom training session, followed by a preceptorship period with experienced surveyors. Surveyors receive ongoing education through annual training programs, conference calls, audiotapes, videotapes and self-directed tutorials.
Today's health care environment is changing rapidly, and ambulatory care providers are experiencing new competitive pressures in the health care marketplace. Providing high-quality care to patients and continually improving performance are benchmarks of success, but it is increasingly important to demonstrate quality of care to payers, regulatory agencies, and managed care organizations. A growing number of ambulatory care organizations seek Joint Commission accreditation because our standards represent a national consensus on high-quality patient care.
Please call (630) 792-5259 for more information about the Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program.