Short Hills Surgery Center of Millburn Achieves AAAHC Reaccreditation

Submitted by Lauren Kerensky

Short Hills Surgery Center has achieved reaccreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation distinguishes this surgical center from many other outpatient facilities by providing the highest quality of care to its patients as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation.

Status as an accredited organization means Short Hills Surgery Center has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care set by AAAHC. More than 5,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by AAAHC. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous on-site survey process are granted accreditation.

“Our vision is to be the number one choice ambulatory surgery center of physicians, patients and employees,” said Edward M. Decter, M.D., medical director of Short Hills Surgery Center. “Pursuing accreditation means that we as an organization care enough about our patients to strive for the highest level of care possible. Our center has all the accreditations of a traditional hospital, but we adhere to an even higher standard of care, which is reflected both in our re-accreditation and patient satisfaction scores.”

The center first received accreditation in 2007 and is reevaluated every 3 years in order to retain the designation.

Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by AAAHC undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by AAAHC expert surveyors – 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.

Short Hills Surgery Center in Millburn brings together over seventy specialists who are committed to providing the highest quality care in the safest environment possible. Our surgeons have extensive experience in a wide range of specialties: Orthopaedics and Spine Care, General Surgery, ENT, Gynecology, Urology, Pain Management, Podiatry, Retinal Surgery, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery and Plastic Surgery. Opened in 2005, our doctor-owned center combines advanced surgical skills and unsurpassed technology in a safe, pristine and comfortable setting.