PCHC Achieves Key National Accreditation
BANGOR, Maine, Jan. 25—Penobscot Community Health Care, the largest federally qualified community health center in Maine, has won a key safety and quality distinction from a national organization. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care this month certified that PCHC adheres to rigorous standards and a process of continuous improvement.
The AAAHC surveys organizations every three years or 1,095 days. The period between accreditations is a critical time when health organizations, with
help from proven experts can develop the kind of everyday habits that enable leaders in the industry to provide the utmost in quality care to their patients.
“We are honored with this distinction—and it is 100 percent because of the hard work, dedication and innovative spirit of our teams,” said PCHC Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Dawn Cook. “They doubled down on our safety and quality programs and worked hard to address any potential deficiencies. As always, we are principally guided by the needs of the people we serve; we aim first to offer our community the safest, highest quality of care.”
The accreditation process involves extensive self-assessment and an onsite survey by AAAHC experts including physicians, nurses, and administrators. PCHC’s onsite visit took place in December. Standards or practices surveyed include procedures; size, cleanliness, and accessibility of patient spaces; and documentation protocols.
About Penobscot Community Health Care
Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) is a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1997 to ensure access to comprehensive, integrated primary health care services for all to improve the health and wellbeing of patients and the Maine communities served. Seventeen practices and program service sites in the Bangor area, and in Belfast and Jackman, offer a wide range of services, including family medicine, dental, pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, medication-assisted treatment and substance use disorder services, urgent/walk-in care services, as well as specialty services such as speech, audiology and chiropractic services, retail and primary care pharmacy, and healthcare for the homeless. Online at www.pchc.com.
About AAAHC
Founded in 1979, AAAHC is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation, with more than 6,100
organizations accredited. We accredit a wide range of outpatient settings, including ambulatory surgery
centers, office-based surgery facilities, endoscopy centers, student health centers, medical and dental
group practices, community health centers, employer-based health clinics, retail clinics, and
Indian/Tribal health centers, among others.
AAAHC advocates for the provision of high-quality health care through the development and adoption
of nationally recognized standards. We provide a valuable survey experience founded on a peer-based,
educational approach to onsite review. The AAAHC Certificate of Accreditation, along with specialized
programs including Advanced Orthopaedic Certification and Medical Home Certification, demonstrates
an organization’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality services to its patients—every day of the
1,095-day accreditation cycle. AAAHC Accreditation and Certification Programs are recognized by
third-party payers, medical professional associations, liability insurance companies, state and federal
agencies, and the public. For more information on AAAHC, please visit www.aaahc.org.