The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care has released its v44 Standards, the latest update to its accreditation and certification handbooks, according to a news release shared with Becker’s Aug. 18.
Here’s five things to know about the updated standards:
1. The update’s effective date is Dec. 16, 2025. The updates emphasize strengthened education for informed decision-making, enhanced guidance for data collection and outcomes measurement and more sensitivity to patient preferences, cultural needs and expectations.
2. They also improve alignment with individual states’ scope-of-practice requirements to better ensure that facilities operate safely in compliance with local regulatory frameworks.
3. The new standards also include updated structure and language to reduce administrative burden and support day-to-day implementation of quality practices.
4. The updates span all AAAHC Accreditation and Certification programs, including ambulatory, Medicare deemed status, advanced orthopaedic certification, health plans and health plans FEHB.
5. The AAAHC said that the updates are “more than a handbook release.”
“They’re a springboard for quality improvement every day,” the release reads. “Resources, such as the Help Curtain, learning modules and access to history, further empower healthcare professionals to embed QI practices into daily operations.:
