Types of Surveys

Applying for your first AAAHC accreditation survey when your organization has been open for less than six months

The AAAHC offers an Early Option Survey (EOS) for organizations that: (1) must meet laws or regulations that require accreditation before the facility can legally begin operations; or (2) are newly constructed, operational, and require accreditation for third-party reimbursement, and a six-month wait for a survey would entail financial hardship; or (3) have been providing services for less than six months.

The eligibility criteria for an organization to request the AAAHC EOS are the same as the regular AAAHC eligibility criteria, except that the requirement that an organization has been providing health care services for at least six months before the on-site survey is conducted is waived. The organization must meet the following requirements before the EOS survey can be scheduled:

• Licensure or provisional licensure has been obtained from the state licensing authority; if the organization is not subject to facility licensure law, then it should provide a statement from the appropriate authority attesting to this fact
• If the state requires a licensure survey, but the survey cannot be conducted until immediately prior to opening for preliminary licensure, verification of the license or licensure survey must be obtained by the AAAHC surveyors at the time of the EOS
• The building in which patient care services will be delivered is built and ready to support patient care service delivery, as evidenced by reports of any inspections conducted by state and local fire marshals, state or local health departments or other code enforcement agencies
• The date to begin operations has been identified
• All goverance and administrative strutures, including bylaws, policies and procedures, are in place
• Key executives are employed and medical staff have been credentialed and privileged by the govering body
• All necessary equipment is in place and has been appropriately tested and/or calibrated with up-to-date maintenance logs in place

Organizations must complete an Application for Survey for their EOS survey. After review of the completed Application for Survey and supporting documentation, the AAAHC will contact the organization to establish survey dates.

Initial accreditation surveys are conducted when the organization’s AAAHC accreditation has expired and the organization is again seeking accreditation with the AAAHC or organizations that are not currently accredited by the AAAHC and have been providing services for at least six (6) months before the on-site survey.

Organizations must complete an Application for Survey for their initial survey. After review of the completed Application for Survey and supporting documentation, the AAAHC will contact the organization to establish survey dates.

Re-accreditation surveys are conducted for organizations that are currently AAAHC-accredited and seek continuation of accreditation following a three-year term.

Interim surveys are conducted for organizations that are currently AAAHC-accredited and for which oversight is required to assess ongoing compliance with the accreditation Standards.

Organizations surveyed under the 2011 Standards and receive less than a three year term of accreditation will be eligible for this type of survey.

Applying for a re-survey after receiving a six-month or one-year term of accreditation

Accredited organizations are required to maintain their operations in compliance with the current AAAHC standards and policies throughout their accreditation term. The AAAHC reserves the right to amend its standards and policies so long as it provides all accredited organizations with notice of such amendments, or includes such amendments in the most recent edition of the Handbook. In order to avoid a lapse in accreditation status, organizations must undergo a full, regular survey before the expiration date documented on the decision letter and certificate of accreditation.

Organizations applying following a one-year or six-month term of accreditation should submit, 12 weeks prior to expiration, an Application for Survey.

The Accreditation Association has been granted "deemed status" by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC) and also for HMOs and PPOs that are accredited by the Accreditation Association that participate in the Medicare Advantage program. As a result, ASCs and HMOs/PPOs have the option to choose an accreditation survey using the AAAHC standards in the Handbook, or to choose the AAAHC-Medicare deemed status survey that includes a review of applicable Medicare requirements.

Information on Medicare Deemed Status Surveys for ASCs

Information on Medicare Advantage Surveys for Managed Care Organizations

Random Surveys

To support the AAAHC's ongoing quality assurance initatives, an accredited organization may be selected for a ramdom survey from 9 to 30 months after an accreditation survey. Random surveys are unannounced. Organizations are selected on a proportionate basis across practice settings, geographic ares and accreditation decision categories. These unannounced surveys, which are conducted by one surveyor and may last one full day, are a means by wich the AAAHC can evaluate the consistency and quality of its program, while also demonstrating to the public an regulators that accredited organizations remain committed to the AAAHC standards throughout the accrediation cycle. Random surveys also provide the AAAHC and its surveyors with opportunities to further consult with accredited organizations in the intercal between regular surveys. No fee shall be charged to the organization when a random survey is conducted.

Discretionary Surveys

Discretionary surveys are conducted "for cause," when concerns have been raised about an accredited organization's continued compliance with standards. An accredited organization may undergo a discretionaery survey without advance notice, at any time, and at the discretion of the AAAHC. No fee shall be charvged to the organization when a discretionary survey is conducted.