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Revisions to the Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory Health Care since the 2005 Edition
Chapter 2: Governance
2-I.B.-13. This standard has been revised to take into account the variation between states in definition and use of terms, for example, creed and sex. The revision is more inclusive while the intent of the standard has been maintained.
Chapter 4: Quality of Care
4-E. Formerly 4-D.-12, this element of the standard has been raised to a full letter standard due to the acknowledgment of this significance.
Chapter 8: Facilities and Environment
8-B.-1-3 The elements of this standard have been raised to full letter standards due to the acknowledgment of their significance. The requirement for a documented cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique drill, as appropriate to the organization, has been moved from 2005 standard 8-B.-3 to 2006 standard 8-E for consistency.
Chapter 9: Anesthesia Services
9-V. This new standard has been created to acknowledge that some drugs administered to achieve a desired level of anesthesia, can induce deeper levels of anesthesia that what is intended and some of these drugs do not have known antagonist medications. AAAHC credentialing and privileging standarts appropriately outline the requirements for the health care professional administering anesthetics or other drugs to achieve a desired level of anesthesia. The organization must now also have a written protocol of how the organization will respond if a deeper than desired level of anesthesia occurs.
Chapter 10: Surgical Services
A Note has been added to the beginning of the Chapter to recognize health care settings where only minor procedures are performed and minimal levels of anesthesia administered.
Chapter 12: Dental Services
Several standards have been added to this Chapter to increase the comprehensiveness of the review of dental services. Amendments have been made to specify that dental services provided or made available must be consistent with dentistry as defined by state regulation and are limited to procedures approved by the governing body of the organization. In addition, the qualifications of dental health professionals performing dental procedures have been spelled out.
New standards have also been introduced, regarding having an updated history and physical, putting in place policies and procedures regarding pain management, the appropriateness of procedures, discussion of care with patients prior to the provision of services and obtaining the consent of the patient.
Chapter 15: Pharmaceutical Services
15-B. The elements of this standard have been raised to a full letter standard due to the acknowledgement of their significance.
Chapter 19: Employee and Occupational Health Services and Chapter 20: Other Professional and Technical Services
It is recognized that travel medicine services may be provided in a variety of ambulatory settings, including occupational health. To ensure all settings providing these services will be assessed by this standard, Travel Medicine standard 19-N has been moved to Chapter 20 - Other Professional and Technical Services. Chapter 20 has been divided into Subchapter I - General Services for existing standards, and Subchapter II - Travel Medicine under which the former 19-N and elements have been placed. |