ACEP is partnering with CIHQ

ACEP is partnering with the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) to accredit Free-standing Emergency Centers beginning August 2019

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) established a task force to produce accreditation standards for free-standing emergency centers (FSECs) to promote high quality standards in this rapidly growing practice setting. The task force carefully considered best practice standards for staffing, lab and imaging services, equipment requirements, documentation, quality improvement (QI), billing practices, EMS integration, public education, signage, and ethics. Those standards were accepted by the ACEP Board of Directors with an assignment to investigate implementation of an FSEC accreditation program.

ACEP is proud to announce a partnership with the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) to offer and implement a national accreditation program for both independent and hospital-based FSECs. CIHQ is a CMS deemed authority for accreditation programs and has significant experience and expertise in this area. It was a natural fit to draw on their expertise to implement a first-rate accreditation experience for interested parties that want recognition for their high standards of emergency care.

Accreditation will require a site visit to verify established standards are met and will be valid for three years, as long as the site remains in good standing.

Information about the FSEC Accreditation process, including the standards, accreditation process, program fact sheets and the application itself can be found on the CIHQ website.