The standard is validated
AAA's healthcare standards were assessed and accredited by ISQua EEA against the 5th Edition guidelines — development process and content alike.
ISQua EEA · Accredited standards
Standards validated against an international benchmark.
AAA provides accreditation to the healthcare sector in accordance with the AAA Accreditation Standards for Healthcare Facilities — standards that have themselves been assessed and accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua EEA).
- ISQua EEAStandards accredited by
- 5th Ed.Benchmark edition
- 1985ISQua established
The recognition
Assessed and accredited by ISQua EEA
The AAA standards have been assessed and accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua EEA) against the Guidelines and Principles for the Development of Health and Social Care Standards, 5th Edition, Version 1.0, September 2018.
In practice this means that both the development of AAA's Accreditation Standards for Healthcare Facilities and their content have been assessed and found to meet international best-practice requirements. You are not simply being measured against a private checklist — you are being measured against standards that have themselves been externally examined.
Why this matters when you are audited elsewhereRegulators, insurers, referral partners and international patients increasingly ask who validated the standard behind an accreditation. ISQua EEA is the answer that travels.
About ISQua
Four decades of international quality and safety.
ISQua was established in 1985 with a vision to promote quality and safety in health care through international co-operation and collaboration — and it is dedicated to making that vision a reality.
- Education and knowledge sharing for healthcare professionals
- External evaluation of standards and accreditation bodies
- Support for health systems worldwide
- Networks spanning 70+ countries and 6 continents
ISQua main milestones
- 1985 — Foundation of ISQuaEstablished to promote and advance quality and safety in healthcare globally.
- 1995 — International Accreditation Programme launchedIntroduced a framework to accredit healthcare organizations and improve standards worldwide.
- 1999 — First international conferenceHosted the inaugural conference bringing together global leaders in healthcare quality.
- 2005 — Accreditation of Accreditors (IAA)Launched a programme to accredit accreditation bodies, setting high standards for the organizations that accredit others.
- 2010 — Expansion of educational programmesDeveloped training and certification programmes for healthcare professionals and organizations.
- 2015 — 30th anniversaryMarked three decades of advancing healthcare quality and safety globally.
- 2018 — ISQua Fellowship ProgrammeRecognized outstanding contributions to healthcare quality through a prestigious fellowship programme.
- 2020 — Response to the COVID-19 pandemicProvided resources, guidelines and support to healthcare organizations during the global crisis.
- 2023 — Focus on digital health and innovationEmbraced technology and innovation to improve healthcare quality.
What it means for you
Recognition your stakeholders can verify
International recognition is only useful if someone else can check it. Every part of the chain behind an AAA healthcare accreditation is externally traceable.
The expertise is documented
The programmes were created to ISQua's international requirements and in consultation with 174 international healthcare experts.
The certificate is checkable
Accredited organizations are listed in AAA's public directory, so anyone can confirm your status and scope.
FAQ
Questions about AAA's international recognition
What exactly has ISQua accredited?
ISQua EEA has assessed and accredited the AAA Accreditation Standards for Healthcare Facilities against the Guidelines and Principles for the Development of Health and Social Care Standards, 5th Edition, Version 1.0, September 2018. This means both the development of AAA's standards and their content have been assessed and found to meet international best practice requirements.
Is AAA a member of ISQua?
Yes. AAA is an institutional member of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua).
What is ISQua?
ISQua was established in 1985 with a vision to promote quality and safety in health care through international co-operation and collaboration. It has been working to improve the quality and safety of healthcare worldwide for over 30 years through education, knowledge sharing, external evaluation and supporting health systems, connecting healthcare professionals across more than 70 countries and 6 continents.
What does ISQua EEA recognition mean for our facility?
It means the standards you are being assessed against are themselves externally validated to an international benchmark — so an AAA accreditation is credible to regulators, insurers, partners and patients outside the country where it was awarded.
Keep reading
More on healthcare accreditation
Accreditation Standards
The twelve chapters of evidence-based criteria behind AAA healthcare accreditation, and how they are developed.
Learn moreAccreditation Process
Your guide to the full accreditation journey — four documented stages, phase-by-phase timelines and what to expect.
Learn moreWhy AAA Accreditation?
Seven reasons facilities choose AAA — international recognition, a simple four-step process and a dedicated advisor throughout.
Learn moreConsultation Services
Gap analysis, documentation support, staff training, mock surveys and a continuous compliance strategy.
Learn moreWho Can Be Accredited?
The healthcare facilities eligible to apply — from single-chair dental offices to multi-site hospitals.
Learn moreTake the next step
Accreditation that holds up internationally.
Talk to the healthcare team about how AAA accreditation is recognized in the markets you operate in, and what it would take for your facility to achieve it.