AAAHC unveils v44 standards to sharpen focus on patient-centered ambulatory care

Editor's Note

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) released its v44 Standards, introducing new guidance designed to strengthen patient-focused care, streamline compliance, and align with evolving state regulations, an August 18 AAAHC announcement reports.

As detailed in the news release, the v44 Standards, effective December 16, 2025, were developed through a collaborative process that incorporated feedback from surveyors, expert committees, and accredited organizations. The updates place stronger emphasis on informed decision-making through education, improved outcomes measurement, and responsiveness to patients’ cultural and personal needs. They also enhance alignment with state scope-of-practice requirements, helping organizations maintain compliance while supporting safe clinical operations.

According to the announcement, changes to the language and structure of the Standards are intended to reduce administrative burden and make implementation more practical in daily practice. AAAHC leaders highlighted the revisions are curated to help organizations focus on the most relevant aspects of quality improvement within their settings. The v44 Standards apply across AAAHC Accreditation and Certification programs, including Ambulatory, Medicare Deemed Status, Advanced Orthopaedic Certification, and Health Plans.

They also reinforce AAAHC’s “1095 Strong, quality every day” philosophy, designed to maintain excellence in the years between surveys. The Standards are integrated with AAAHC’s 1095 Engage digital platform, which provides tools such as learning modules, a Help Curtain feature, and historical references to aid organizations in embedding continuous quality improvement into daily operations. Leaders emphasized patient-centered care remains central to the updates, with refinements intended to improve clarity, communication, and sensitivity to diverse patient populations.

AAAHC describes v44 as both a refresh and a step forward: the Standards reflect current best practices while introducing clearer, more actionable requirements.