How to Choose an Ambulatory Surgery Center Accreditor
Better questions yield better decisions.
Why the accreditor you choose matters to your ambulatory surgery center
Choosing an accreditor isn’t simply about meeting CMS requirements. It’s about finding the right fit for your team, with clearly presented standards, accessible guidance, and a process that supports continuous survey readiness and long-term quality improvement.
Some commonly held beliefs about ASC accreditation can keep organizations from asking whether they’re getting the value they should expect:
Stronger quality and patient safety outcomes.
Stronger support for future growth and business sustainability.
Stronger connection between standards and daily practice.
Stronger commitment to a culture of improvement-driven teamwork.
Myth vs. Truth
Review the eight assumptions below and consider your own experience based on the evaluation cues.
Myth
“ACHC is new to ASC accreditation.”
Truth
ACHC has held CMS deeming authority for ASCs since 2003. For over two decades, we’ve been evaluating procedural care and helping centers meet Medicare Conditions for Coverage.
We know ASCs!
Myth
“Our surveyor won’t understand a center like ours.”
Truth
A credible accreditation process is grounded in clear standards, experienced surveyors and objective review.
ACHC surveyors are employees—not contractors or volunteers. Your center is surveyed by a knowledgeable professional who knows how clinical care, leadership, life safety, infection prevention, and daily operations come together
They undergo extensive, comprehensive education before training with a preceptor on actual surveys to ensure they understand and apply standards consistently as they collect data. Then an ACHC review committee evaluates every survey report before making an accreditation decision.
Myth
“Surveys feel punitive and adversarial.”
Truth
Our surveys are rigorous, respectful, and improvement focused. ACHC surveyors don’t just look for deficiencies. They engage your team professionally and constructively to add value beyond evaluation of compliance.
Myth
“Switching accreditors will disrupt operations.”
Truth
ACHC makes the transition easy. We offer one-on-one support to help guide your ASC through each step using a clear, supportive process that minimizes disruption.
Myth
“The quoted price is only the beginning.”
Truth
With ACHC, there’s only one contract price. Ever.
We do not charge recurring or add-on fees; the price you’re quoted for accreditation services is what you pay. Your organization gains access to knowledgeable ACHC professionals before, during, and after the survey through your full term of accreditation.
Myth
“A new accreditor will make us rebuild our entire compliance program.”
Truth
Your ASC may already be closer to compliance than you think. ACHC helps your team identify where current practices already align with our standards and where specific changes can make them stronger.
Myth
"Our ASC and affiliated services will always need separate accrediting relationships."
Truth
ACHC can support multiple parts of your organization.
ACHC's capabilities extend across ASCs, office-based surgery practices, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, and other healthcare settings — helping integrated organizations promote greater consistency, coordination, and organizational understanding.
Myth
“All accreditors are basically the same.”
Truth
CMS requirements mean that standards are similar across AOs, but each organization has a unique approach to assessing compliance and working with client organizations. ACHC’s partnership approach combines CMS-aligned standards with responsive customer service, professional surveyors, and direct, accessible support throughout your accreditation cycle.
Myth
“ACHC is new to ASC accreditation.”
Truth
ACHC has held CMS deeming authority for ASCs since 2003. For over two decades, we’ve been evaluating procedural care and helping centers meet Medicare Conditions for Coverage.
We know ASCs!
Myth
“Our surveyor won’t understand a center like ours.”
Truth
A credible accreditation process is grounded in clear standards, experienced surveyors and objective review.
ACHC surveyors are employees—not contractors or volunteers. Your center is surveyed by a knowledgeable professional who knows how clinical care, leadership, life safety, infection prevention, and daily operations come together
They undergo extensive, comprehensive education before training with a preceptor on actual surveys to ensure they understand and apply standards consistently as they collect data. Then an ACHC review committee evaluates every survey report before making an accreditation decision.
Myth
“Surveys feel punitive and adversarial.”
Truth
Our surveys are rigorous, respectful, and improvement focused. ACHC surveyors don’t just look for deficiencies. They engage your team professionally and constructively to add value beyond evaluation of compliance.
Myth
“Switching accreditors will disrupt operations.”
Truth
ACHC makes the transition easy. We offer one-on-one support to help guide your ASC through each step using a clear, supportive process that minimizes disruption.
Myth
“The quoted price is only the beginning.”
Truth
With ACHC, there’s only one contract price. Ever.
We do not charge recurring or add-on fees; the price you’re quoted for accreditation services is what you pay. Your organization gains access to knowledgeable ACHC professionals before, during, and after the survey through your full term of accreditation.
Myth
“A new accreditor will make us rebuild our entire compliance program.”
Truth
Your ASC may already be closer to compliance than you think. ACHC helps your team identify where current practices already align with our standards and where specific changes can make them stronger.
Myth
"Our ASC and affiliated services will always need separate accrediting relationships."
Truth
ACHC can support multiple parts of your organization.
ACHC's capabilities extend across ASCs, office-based surgery practices, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, and other healthcare settings — helping integrated organizations promote greater consistency, coordination, and organizational understanding.
Myth
“All accreditors are basically the same.”
Truth
Not all accreditation experiences are created equal.
ACHC’s partnership approach combines CMS-aligned standards with responsive customer service, professional surveyors, and direct, accessible support throughout your accreditation cycle.
Read what Ambulatory Surgery Centers have said about the experience and impact of ACHC.
"Over the past several months, ACHC's professionalism, patience, responsiveness, and willingness to guide us every step of the way has provided us with an experience unlike any we have had before. This accreditation journey was much more than simply preparing for a survey — it became a valuable learning opportunity that helped us better understand the standards, expectations, and best practices required to operate a high-quality ambulatory surgery center."
–– Concourse Diagnostic & Surgery Center
"Our ACHC surveyor was the best! She provided not only a detailed, thorough survey but was very informative and provided education and recommendations for our facility."
–– Southwestern Oklahoma Surgical Associates
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