Dan Otero, HMS Chief Executive Officer, alongside Garrett Olin, HMS Director of Quality Improvement and Information Technology, congratulates some of HMS' approximately 230 employees, including Nellie Padilla, Pat Nesbitt, Marisol Delgado, Jessica Ortega, and Evelyn Montes, on HMS' recently announced AAAHC accreditation.Silver City, NM – Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) recently achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation through the AAAHC distinguishes this Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) 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 that HMS has met nationally recognized standards for the provision of quality health care set by the AAAHC. More than 6,000 ambulatory health care organizations across the United States are accredited by the AAAHC. Not all ambulatory health care organizations seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous on-site survey process are granted accreditation.

"We believe our patients deserve the best. When you see our certificate of accreditation, you will know the AAAHC, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has closely examined our facilities, and clinical care delivery systems," stated Dan Otero, HMS Chief Executive Officer.

Ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation by the 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.

Added Otero, "HMS is very proud of this accreditation, and the 230 employees who helped to make this recognition possible. As a recent recipient of the Quality New Mexico Performance Excellence Piñon Award, and in conjunction with the AAAHC accreditation validated by of our quality care delivery systems, HMS will continue to work hard to fulfill our organizational mission and pursue our vision to be a National leader in rural and frontier healthcare delivery."

The AAAHC, founded in 1979, is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation with more than 6,000 organizations accredited nationwide. To learn more about the AAAHC, please visit http://www.aaahc.org. As Hidalgo and Grant Counties' only Federally Qualified Health Center, HMS provides healthcare services at multiple locations to more than 16,000 individuals every year. To learn more about HMS services, providers, and locations, please visit http://www.hmsnm.org.