How Our Accreditation Benefits You
Options Mankato proudly earned accreditation in 2024, marking a major milestone in our commitment to providing high-quality, life-affirming care. In this article, we explore the significance of accreditation, the process behind it, and how it reflects our dedication to empowering women with knowledge and comprehensive care.
What Does Accreditation Mean?
As of October 2024, Options Mankato holds accreditation through the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). [Ambulatory health care refers to medical services provided outside of a hospital, such as clinics and centers.] This means that Options Mankato can now call itself a certified medical clinic and not just a pregnancy resource center. The same client services are still offered (pregnancy testing, limited first trimester ultrasounds, and abortion pill reversal) with the potential to add further medical resources such as STI testing and fertility awareness.
Achieving accreditation was a three-year, rigorous process. During that time staff collected evidence for almost 200 standards such as privacy and sanitation policies. It was the labor of many hands, and it turned out, everyone had been working even more diligently than necessary: We had been operating without the handbook, which would have listed suggestions for each standard! Needless to say, Options passed accreditation with flying colors.
Why Accreditation Matters
According to the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), achieving accreditation:
Enables our organization to meet high patient-safety standards
Recognizes the quality of services we provide
Demonstrates a commitment to providing high-quality health care
Develops the practices and process needed to comply with federal, state, and local laws in addition to accreditation standards for the care we provide
Places continuous improvement at the center of our culture
For Options Mankato, achieving accreditation especially adds to our credibility as a medically sound pregnancy center. While you can get great medical care elsewhere, Options Mankato stands out for our life-affirming care. Every aspect of our services reflect those values. We practice in an ethical manner, striving to be above reproach. We employ doctors, nurses, and midwives for our medical services, and our advocates and educators are trained in their respective fields. As our Clinical Services Director Lisa Brown says, “The beauty of life-affirming care is that the life of the mother is just as important as the child.” We are here to empower women, and treat both her and her child with dignity.
What should I do if I think I’m Pregnant?
We believe that knowledge is power, and being equipped with all the facts is crucial to improving medical care for women. At our clinic, we can confirm your pregnancy with confidential, no-cost pregnancy testing. If you receive a positive test result, our credentialed nurse sonographer can also perform a no-cost ultrasound to tell you how far along your pregnancy is.
Please note that we do not offer or refer for abortions. However, we are committed to providing evidence-based medical education about abortion procedures and risks. We truly care for you and your health. Contact us today to make your confidential appointment to discuss your options.
Sources: AAHC
