Elk Regional Health System’s Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center has earned accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, or AAAHC, a designation that distinguishes the surgery center as one that has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of high quality health care as set by the AAAHC.
“Going through the process challenged us to find better ways to serve our patients,” said Dr. K.C. Joseph, President of the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center. “It is a constant reminder that our first responsibility is to our patients and the quality of care we provide.”
More than 4,500 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by the AAAHC. But not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation and not all who undergo the on-site survey are granted accreditation – and that puts the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center in an exclusive group.
“We believe our patients deserve the best,” said Kathy Wortman, RN, the Administrator and Clinical Director of the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center. “When you see our certificate of accreditation, you know that the AAAHC has closely examined our facility and procedures. It means that we, as an organization, care enough about our patients to strive for the highest quality care possible.”
Ambulatory health care organizations like the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center seeking accreditation must undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by the AAAHC’s expert surveyors, which include volunteer physicians, nurses and administrators. That group – all of whom are actively involved in ambulatory health care – provide ambulatory health care organizations with a consultative, educational survey that helps organizations improve care and services.
The AAAHC is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides accreditation to ambulatory and office-based surgery centers, single and multi-specialty group practices, college health centers, dental group practices, community health centers, occupational health centers and managed care organizations.
The Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center was established in 2002 and has performed more than 18,000 surgeries. The center serves patients in seven counties for procedures such as cataract removal, colonoscopies, carpal tunnel release, hernias, knee and shoulder surgery, tonsillectomy, tooth extraction and vascular procedures.
“We at Elk Regional are proud to call the Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center part of the Elk Regional family,” said Gregory Bauer, President and CEO of Elk Regional Health System. “No-one else in the region offers patients the option of ambulatory surgery in such a private, patient-focused setting. Our patients are ultimately the ones who benefit from this partnership and from the Surgery Center’s focus on providing the best in care.”
The Regional Ambulatory Surgery Center is located at 1376 Bucktail Road in St. Marys. For more information, call (814) 781-6565.