Orbis Flying Eye Hospital earns AAAASFI accreditation for patient safety
(NEW YORK, NY, USA) – Orbis, a leading global non-governmental organization (NGO) that works to eliminate avoidable blindness, has demonstrated its commitment to patient safety by gaining accreditation from the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities International (AAAASFI) for its Flying Eye Hospital (FEH).
To earn its accreditation, Orbis passed inspection of hundreds of important criteria concerning patient safety, the same criteria used to evaluate first class outpatient facilities in the United States and globally. Ortmann Healthcare Consulting Services assisted with the accreditation.
The AAAASFI develops accreditation programs to standardize and improve the quality of medical and surgical care in outpatient facilities and assures the public that patient safety is a top priority. All accredited clinics must pass inspection of all practice standards in the following categories:
- General environment and safety
- Operating room environment
- Policies and procedures
- Recovery room environment
- Blood and medications
- Medical records
- Quality assessment
- Personnel and staff; and
- Anesthesia
AAAASFI President, Dr. Ronald Iverson, said, “The decision by Orbis leadership to pursue accreditation cannot be overstated. It speaks volumes about the organization’s commitment to medical and clinical excellence on board. This is an important achievement for the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital and AAAASFI is pleased to endorse Orbis’s performance in patient safety and quality.”
The FEH is a fully equipped mobile teaching hospital. On the outside, the plane is like most other aircraft. Inside, it’s like no other. It hosts an ophthalmic hospital and teaching facility right on board.
More than 285 million people around the world are visually impaired. It is estimated that 90 percent of those with visual impairment live in developing countries where there is limited access to health care.
“Earning the AAAASFI accreditation means we are providing patients around the world with the best care possible in line with international standards,” said Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Medical Director, Dr. Ahmed Gomaa. “The Orbis team and volunteer faculty can now provide hands-on training to convey the latest medical knowledge to help local eye care professionals treat patients and address the leading causes of blindness in their communities in an accredited facility.”
About Orbis
Orbis prevents and treats blindness through hands-on training, public health education, improved access to quality eye care, advocacy and partnerships with local health care organizations. By building long-term capabilities, Orbis helps its partner institutions take action to reach a state where they can provide, on their own, quality eye care services that are affordable, accessible and sustainable. To learn more about Orbis, please visit www.orbis.org.
About the AAAASFI
AAAASFI is a for-profit subsidiary of the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF) and promotes the highest level of patient safety in outpatient care. The AAAASFI accreditation program is peer based. Physicians and dentists who understand local customs and culture perform onsite surveys and interact with the AAAASFI Global Standards Advisory Committee to review subtle nuances, along with vast differences in AAAASFI standards appropriate for each country. For more information visit AAAASFI.org.
About the AAAASF
The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF) was established in 1980 to develop an accreditation program to standardize and improve the quality of medical and surgical care in outpatient facilities while assuring the public that patient safety is top priority in an accredited facility. Today, more than 2,100 outpatient facilities are accredited by AAAASF, one of the largest not-for-profit accrediting organizations in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.aaaasf.org or Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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