Purpose of Accreditation (Health, Medicine, Nursing Essay)

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Purpose of Accreditation
Accreditation is the process of continuously assessing the players in healthcare practice to ensure that that they meet and comply with the set standards or requirements meant to improve healthcare quality (Urman & Philip, 2014). The main purpose of accreditation is to ensure delivery of quality healthcare through compliance with the set medical standards. To ensure quality of healthcare services, the accreditation bodies evaluate the healthcare professionals by ensuring that they are qualified to deliver quality healthcare services (Grant & Greene, 2012). Another purpose of accreditation is to promote patient trust. Most often, patients rely on the healthcare professionals to improve their well-being. Without accreditation, patients cannot trust physicians or the organization with their health. In such cases, accreditation acts as a guide to health facilities where they can receive the highest quality level of care (Kongstvedt, 2013).
Indeed, the process of accreditation has improved the quality of care being provided to the patients. Patients, who are the primary beneficiaries of accreditation program, are now receiving quality care because they are serviced by the credential medical staff. Accreditation has also enabled hospitals to perform evidence-based practices and allow access to affordable, quality care. According to Urman & Philip (2014), the failure of some states to follow many government regulations on healthcare has led to poor health services in those states. Since accreditation is voluntary, it has challenged the medical regulations that the government has laid down at state and federal level (Kongstvedt, 2013). For that reason, accreditation has filled the gap or eliminated the deficiency areas, thus, establishing optimum standards, clinical excellence and professional accountability. With these establishments, accreditation has successfully improved the care quality delivered to the patients.
Process of Accreditation for AAAHC
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare (AAAHC) is a private organization that awards ambulatory healthcare organizations with certificates for adhering to the set standards (Care, 2018). It provides services such as consultation, prognosis, treatment, observation and rehabilitation. Since its establishment in 1979, AAAHC has accredited almost six thousand organizations in different ambulatory healthcare settings such as community health centers, surgery centers, and health care home practices (AAAHC, 2020). These organizations have selected AAAHC as the healthcare accreditation partner of choice. As noted, the ultimate goal of AAAHC is to help its partners meet the strictest standards in the healthcare industry by demonstrating their commitment to safe, high quality patient care (Auras & Geraedts, 2010).
Before receiving an AAAHC certificate, AAAHC first evaluates the use of evidence-based clinical practice, the presence of constant performance improvement measures, and organizational infrastructure (Care, 2018). These elements enhance improved healthcare services in the specialty area. ...