Local Anesthesiology Group Becomes First in Arizona to Receive AAAHC Accreditation for Office-Based Anesthesia

PHOENIX, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- VAC Mobile Services, a division of Valley Anesthesiology Consultants, has achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Valley is one of only 10 office-based anesthesia groups nationwide to receive AAAHC accreditation, and the only office-based anesthesia organization in Arizona currently accredited by AAAHC.

Status as an accredited organization means Valley has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care, set by the Accreditation Association. Health care organizations seeking accreditation by the AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by the Accreditation Association's expert surveyors which include physicians, nurses, and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory health care. The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.  

"The demand for peri-operative anesthesia services in the office-based setting continues to be an emerging trend in elective ambulatory surgery," stated Aubrey Maze, MD, Valley's CEO. "Our certificate of accreditation demonstrates that AAAHC, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has closely examined our processes and procedures. Our objective with our mobile services is to deliver the safety and comfort of the operating room to the office setting."

AAAHC accreditation is specifically for organizations that provide diagnostic or medical care on an outpatient basis - where an overnight stay would not be required. Among the types of ambulatory health care organizations that seek AAAHC accreditation are 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.

For more information, please visit www.ValleyMobileServices.com.

About Valley Anesthesiology Consultants, LTD

Valley Anesthesiology Consultants is one of the nation's premier providers of anesthesia and pain management services; a physician group of more than 200 anesthesiologists and pain management specialists nationally recognized for its commitment to the highest standards of patient care, serving patients and their physicians throughout Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa, Chandler, Peoria and other communities in Arizona, since 1983. Valley Anesthesiology Consultants also provides specialized services in the following areas: cardiovascular and thoracic anesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, neurosurgery anesthesia, pain management, pediatric anesthesia and transplant anesthesia.  Since 2009, Valley has been providing office-based anesthesia services to medical and dental offices throughout greater Phoenix.

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC/Accreditation Association), founded in 1979, is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation with almost 5,000 organizations accredited nationwide. The AAAHC accredits a variety of ambulatory health care organizations, including ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery centers, endoscopy centers, college student health centers, military health care clinics, and large medical and dental practices. The Accreditation Association serves as an advocate for the provision of high-quality health care through the development of nationally recognized standards and through its survey and accreditation programs. AAAHC accreditation is recognized as a symbol of quality by third-party payers, medical organizations, liability insurance companies, state and federal agencies and the public.

SOURCE Valley Anesthesiology Consultants, LTD