John Burke, PhD, serves as executive vice president and CEO of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, a leader in ambulatory healthcare accreditation with nearly 5,000 organizations accredited nationwide. The AAAHC accredits a variety of ambulatory health care organizations, including ASCs, office-based surgery centers, managed care organizations and large medical and dental practices. As CEO, Dr. Burke assists AAAHC in advocating for high-quality healthcare through the development of a nationally recognized set of standards.
In late 2009, the AAAHC announced its 2010 standards, including the addition of a new core chapter and revisions to many existing chapters. The new chapter included standards for infection prevention, control and safety, a topic on the minds of many ASC administrators as a focus on infection control increases across the country.
Commenting on the revisions to the AAAHC's standards, Dr. Burke said, "The new chapter emphasizes the importance that the [AAAHC] has always placed on the highest standards for infection control and safety in ambulatory organizations." He added, "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 of maintain AAAHC Accreditation should familiar themselves with all standard changes and additions for 2010."
As a leader in promoting healthcare safety and quality across the United States, Dr. Burke is concerned about ASCs failing to meet basic hygiene standards. In August, he commented on the article "One in Four N.J. ASCs Reusing Single-Dose Vials," saying the incident underscores "how important it is for ASCs to undergo an independent evaluation to be certain they meet established standards of care."
He added the AAAHC has joined with other organizations to form the Safe Infection Practices Coalition, a task force that specifically states that single-dose vials should be not be reused. He said accrediting bodies like AAAHC requires ASCs "to review their policies and procedures and identify and correct any practices that do not meet nationally recognized standards for patient safety."
Learn more about Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
In late 2009, the AAAHC announced its 2010 standards, including the addition of a new core chapter and revisions to many existing chapters. The new chapter included standards for infection prevention, control and safety, a topic on the minds of many ASC administrators as a focus on infection control increases across the country.
Commenting on the revisions to the AAAHC's standards, Dr. Burke said, "The new chapter emphasizes the importance that the [AAAHC] has always placed on the highest standards for infection control and safety in ambulatory organizations." He added, "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 of maintain AAAHC Accreditation should familiar themselves with all standard changes and additions for 2010."
As a leader in promoting healthcare safety and quality across the United States, Dr. Burke is concerned about ASCs failing to meet basic hygiene standards. In August, he commented on the article "One in Four N.J. ASCs Reusing Single-Dose Vials," saying the incident underscores "how important it is for ASCs to undergo an independent evaluation to be certain they meet established standards of care."
He added the AAAHC has joined with other organizations to form the Safe Infection Practices Coalition, a task force that specifically states that single-dose vials should be not be reused. He said accrediting bodies like AAAHC requires ASCs "to review their policies and procedures and identify and correct any practices that do not meet nationally recognized standards for patient safety."
Learn more about Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.