About QUAD A
About Us
Since 1980, QUAD A (a non-profit, physician founded and led global accreditation organization) has worked with thousands of healthcare facilities to standardize and improve the quality of care they provide – believing that patient safety should always come first.
QUAD A – Global Accreditation Authority. Patients First. Always.
Our History
QUAD A’s journey began in 1977 as a result of a committee within the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS).
AAAAPSF was born from ASPRS’s membership realizing that there was a specific need. In 1977, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPRS), which subsequently renamed itself the American Society of Plastic (ASPS) consulted with Mr. Edward Stygar, Jr. to create and operate the Office-based Surgery Accreditation Program.
What developed out of this committee was the need to establish the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Plastic Facilities (AAAAPSF) in order to guarantee the quality of outpatient plastic surgical facilities.
In 1980 the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Plastic Surgery Facilities (AAAAPSF) was founded in order to better represent outpatient plastic surgical facilities. AAAASPF morphed into the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) in 1992, recognizing the need for similar standards for all ABMS single surgical and multi-specialty Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). In that same year, the concept of the AAAAPSF accreditation umbrella was created to cover all of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). To reflect this expansion, the name of the organization was officially changed to AAAASF in 1994.
In 1996 AAAASF received a request to accredit a facility in Australia. The Board elected to pursue the accreditation and the Surgery Facilities Resources, Inc. (SFR), a subsidiary organization to AAAASF, was created in 2005 to offer a program of accreditation internationally. In 2009, the SFR
international accreditation program was renamed AAAASF International (AAAASFI) by the SFR board of directors and in 2015 AAAASFI became part of AAAASF’s main organization.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the approval of deeming authority for AAAASF in 2010, making AAAASF a national accreditation program for providers of outpatient physical therapy and speech-language pathology services, as well as those clinics under the current CMS Rehabilitation Agency/Outpatient Physical Therapy (RA/OPT) Medicare program, including occupational therapy clinics. In 2012, AAAASF was granted deeming authority for inspection and Medicare Accreditation of Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and Rehabilitation Agencies programs.
Orbis, a leading NGO that works to eliminate avoidable blindness, gained accreditation from AAAASF for its Flying Eye Hospital in 2014, further expanding AAAASF’s global reach.
Beginning in 2020, the leadership team at AAAASF, along with its executive board, began the process of not only assessing its internal processes but also gaining insight from the facilities it served. The result was an improved understanding and continued commitment to the core belief that patient safety should always come first.
In 2022, AAAASF completed an extensive rebranding effort in response to its continued growth in the U.S. and abroad. At the heart of this effort was a change of the organization’s name from AAAASF to QUAD A, along with an updated brand identity and expanded online presence.
Since 1980, QUAD A, a non-profit, physician founded and led accreditation organization, has worked with thousands of healthcare facilities to help standardize and improve the quality of health care they provide - always striving to be an effective, efficient, and easy to work with partner that values education, reliability, and communication.
OUR HISTORY
Since 1980, QUAD A, a non-profit, physician-founded and led accreditation organization, has worked with thousands of healthcare facilities to help standardize and improve the quality of health care they provide - always striving to be an effective, efficient, and easy to work with partner that values education, reliability, and communication.
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1977
American Society of Plastics and Reconstructive (ASPRS) is Founded
The American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPRS) committee identifies the need for an independent third-party quality assessment program.
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1980
American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Plastic Surgery Facilities (AAAAPSF) is Founded
The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Plastic Surgery Facilities (AAAAPSF) is established to accredit outpatient plastic surgery facilities.
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1992 - 1994
AAAASPF transitioned into the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)
AAAAPSF transitions to the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) to unify accreditation standards for the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialties (AOABOS) practicing in ambulatory facilities.
*In 2022, AAAASF rebrands and becomes QUAD A, but for clarity, we will use the name QUAD A moving forward.
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1997
QUAD A becomes an approved accreditation provider for California facilities
California requires accreditation for facilities providing anesthesia or sedation. QUAD A is an approved accreditation provider. Other accreditations follow: gastroenterology, urology, gynecology, and ophthalmology.
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1998
QUAD A becomes Medicare-recognized
QUAD A becomes a Medicare-recognized authority for Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
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2001
Mandatory Patient Safety Data Reporting (PSDR) system is introduced
QUAD A introduces a mandatory Patient Safety Data Reporting (PSDR) system.
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2005
QUAD A becomes International
QUAD A launches Surgery Facilities Resources, Inc. (SFR) for global accreditation resources.
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2006
Florida mandates office surgery registration for anesthesia or sedation
The Medical Board of Florida mandates office surgery registration for anesthesia or sedation. QUAD A is part of this mandate.
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2009
SFR international accreditation program renamed to AAAASF International (AAAASFI)
New York mandates office accreditation, and QUAD A is recognized as an official Accreditation Authority. Accreditation is recognized by several smaller states, cementing national accreditation.
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2010
QUAD A expands
QUAD A joins Costa Rica's Ministry of Health and Tourism to promote quality care. QUAD A expands into Guatemala, El Salvador, and Columbia.
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2011
Medicare Approved
QUAD A becomes the first and only OPT accreditation organization approved by Medicare.
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2012
QUAD A serves as an expert healthcare advisor
- QUAD A is the first Medicare-approved accreditation organization for rural health clinics.
- The Government of Belize invited QUAD A to serve as an expert advisor on healthcare quality and safety.
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2014
Flying Eye Hospital gains accreditation
Orbis, an NGO tackling avoidable blindness, gains accreditation from QUAD A for its Flying Eye Hospital . -
2015
International Society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (IEEA) Certified
QUAD A's global program is certified by the International Society for Quality in Health Care External Evaluation Association (IEEA). -
2017
U.S. Department of State's premier exchange program
QUAD A is invited by the CDC to join the U.S. Department of State's premier exchange program, International Visitor Leadership Program, presenting to the Ministry of Public Health of the Dominican Republic at the United Nations. -
2018
Collaborations and partnerships
- QUAD A and AAPD collaborate on accreditation and safety measures for dentistry clinics providing sedation to minors.
- QUAD A partners with Harvard researchers for data-driven publications.
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2019
U.S. Department of State's premier exchange program
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) approves QUAD A as an accreditation organization for outpatient surgery, gaining a large share of the surgery market. QUAD A expands in U.A.E. to develop a Middle East presence. -
2020
QUAD A assesses internal processes
QUAD A signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Our Global Accreditation Initiative connects ISAPS member surgeons with accredited facilities that demonstrate compliance with global standards.
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2022
AAAASF officially rebrands to QUAD A
- Acquisition of QUAD A Development Kosovo for accreditation technologies and software..
- QUAD A enters an agreement with Islamabad Regional Health Authority in Pakistan to offer technical assistance and advice for healthcare regulation development.
- QUAD A partners with University College London to research non-surgical aesthetics, publish articles, and create safety measures for the environment.
- QUAD A joins the International Society for Quality and Health Care (ISQua) to advance patient safety globally.
