The Joint Commission launched its ambulatory care accreditation program in 1975. Since then, it has accredited over 2,100 freestanding ambulatory care organizations.
Here are four facts about The Joint Commission's ambulatory care accreditation program:
1. Accreditation is awarded based on an ambulatory care organization's performance according to standards set by The Joint Commission which are developed with the input of healthcare researchers, providers and consumers. Accreditation is awarded for a three year period.
2. Accreditation surveys are performed by professionals with five years of leadership experience in an ambulatory care organization. Surveyors also have advanced clinical or medical degrees, and are educated to be up to date on the advances in quality related performance evaluation.
3. The cost of accreditation is based on a combination of an onsite survey fee, and an annual fee billed every year in January. Survey fees are based on the volume of services provided at an organization, as well as the type of services provided and the sites included in an organization's accreditation.
4. Facilities that can be accredited include ASCs, dental practices, imaging centers, community health systems and others.