Patients
What Accreditation Means for You
Accreditation is an independent evaluation of a healthcare facility against established standards for patient safety and quality care. Trained surveyors visit the facility in person to assess areas patients cannot see or easily verify on their own, including staff qualifications, infection prevention, medication handling, emergency preparedness, equipment and facility conditions, and processes for monitoring and improving care.
When a facility is accredited by QUAD A, it means:
- The facility was reviewed onsite by trained, independent surveyors
- It was evaluated against established patient safety standards at the time of survey
- It was found to meet those standards at the time of survey and agreed to maintain them
Accreditation is not a guarantee about any individual procedure or result. It is evidence that a facility opened its operations to independent review and met a defined set of standards.
The Questions You Would Ask, If You Knew to Ask Them
There is a long list of things worth checking before you receive care anywhere. Almost none of it is visible from the waiting room.
These are the questions QUAD A asks on your behalf. Surveyors review these areas onsite, against written standards, at facilities that volunteer to be examined this closely.
What Type of Facilities Can Be Accredited?
QUAD A accredits a range of outpatient healthcare and dental facilities, including:
- Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs)
- Office-Based Surgical and Procedural Practices
- Rural Health Clinics (RHCs)
- Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinics
- Pediatric Dental Practices
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Facilities
- Non-Surgical Aesthetic & Wellness (MedSpa)
- Polyclinics
Standards differ by facility type, because what makes an ambulatory surgery center safe is not identical to what makes a physical therapy clinic or a MedSpa safe.
How to Confirm a Facility Is Accredited by QUAD A
You can also check the QUAD A directory of accredited facilities. If a facility does not appear there, it is worth asking why before you assume it is accredited.
Your Rights, Safety & Support
You have the right to understand what is happening to you, to ask questions, and to raise concerns. These resources explain what to expect and what to do if something does not seem right.
Patient Safety Information
Receiving care at a QUAD A-accredited facility? Our Patient Safety Information Booklet explains what to expect before, during, and after your visit, and what you can do to prepare.
Report a Concern
If something went wrong during care at a QUAD A-accredited facility, you can submit a complaint for review. Patient reports are one of the ways problems get identified and corrected.