Staff Report
The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic’s national accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) has been renewed for another three-year period.
AAAHC accreditation means that the accredited organization participates in ongoing self-evaluation, peer review and education to continuously improve its care and services. It also requires that the organization commit to a thorough, on-site survey by AAAHC surveyors, who are themselves health care professionals, at least every three years.
Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic is the only primary care facility in Santa Barbara County to attain AAAHC accreditation, officials said.
“The renewal of our accreditation is a testament to our staff’s dedication to maintaining the high standards our patients have come to expect when they visit our clinic,” said Ron Sisson, Executive Director for the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic. “This accreditation represents the gold standard in the health care industry, and it demonstrates to our patients that the organization has ‘passed the test’ and is committed to providing high quality care.”
The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic has more than 4,500 active patients, receives around 18,000 visits each year and employs 64 team members.
“Since first receiving this national distinction in 2013, having our Tribal Health Clinic certified by the industry leader in health care accreditation has been a source of pride for our tribe,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman. “Our clinic is an excellent resource for the entire community, and we’re honored to have its accreditation renewed once again.”
Founded in 1979, AAAHC is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation with more than 6,100 organizations accredited. It accredits 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.
The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic is on the Chumash reservation at 90 Via Juana Lane in Santa Ynez.
The clinic’s comprehensive medical, dental and behavioral health services are available to all members of the community, not only for Native Americans.
For more information, log on to www.sythc.org.
