Introduction

American Accreditation Commission International (AACI), is an independent accreditation body whose purpose is to develop meaningful and relevant standards for healthcare services. We facilitate the practice of healthcare professionals by improving overall health care quality, patient safety, and efficiency of service delivery in a worldwide scope of operation.

AACI accreditation is a programme designed to support the development and continual improvement of healthcare quality and patient safety in healthcare organizations. It also addresses general safety for workers, patients, and other visitors within healthcare organizations. This document explains the AACI accreditation process and is intended to guide healthcare and dental organizations that are either in the program or are considering entering it.

The AACI accreditation program integrates ISO 9001 Quality Management System requirements with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Conditions of Participation for Healthcare organizations (42 C.F.R.

§482) (CoPs) and requirements of 64B8-9.0092 Florida Administrative Code, Approval of Physician Office Accrediting Organizations.

These Accreditation Guidelines are intended for healthcare organizations that are considering applying for AACI accreditation as well as for those that are currently accredited by AACI under our accreditation program. When an organization has applied for but not yet been awarded AACI accreditation, it is referred to as an "Applicant Organization". When an organization is currently accredited by AACI, it is referred to as an "AACI Accredited Organization".

The guidelines address to the requirements of the Standards for certification and assessment bodies (e.g. ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015) and all applicable rules and standards for Management System Certification (MSC).