The Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) is an independent healthcare accreditation organization that evaluates healthcare facilities to ensure they meet established standards for quality, patient safety, and operational excellence. Through a comprehensive accreditation process, CIHQ assesses a facility’s policies, procedures, clinical practices, and commitment to continuous improvement.
For freestanding emergency centers specifically, CIHQ serves as the accrediting authority for its Free-Standing Emergency Center (FSEC) Accreditation Program, which is endorsed by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The program is designed to help ensure facilities meet rigorous standards for safe, high-quality emergency care.
Accreditation means that a healthcare facility has undergone an independent, comprehensive evaluation to verify that it meets established standards for patient safety, quality of care, clinical practices, and facility operations. The process reviews everything from policies and procedures to emergency preparedness, staff qualifications, and patient care protocols.
For patients, accreditation provides added confidence that a facility is committed to maintaining high standards, accountability, and continuous improvement. It reflects more than meeting basic requirements; it demonstrates an ongoing commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and high-quality healthcare.
When seeking emergency care, patients deserve confidence that they are receiving treatment in a facility that prioritizes their safety, well-being, and quality of care. CIHQ accreditation provides an additional level of assurance that a facility has undergone an independent evaluation against established healthcare standards.
For patients, this means choosing a healthcare provider that is committed to:
Following established practices designed to protect patients and minimize risks.
Maintaining standards for clinical practices, emergency services, and patient care.
Undergoing independent evaluation of facility operations, policies, and procedures.
Regularly evaluating and improving processes to support better patient experiences and outcomes.
At Full Spectrum Emergency Room & Urgent Care, our CIHQ accreditation reflects our commitment to providing safe, high-quality emergency and urgent care while maintaining the standards our patients deserve.
Full Spectrum Emergency Room & Urgent Care is proud to have successfully achieved accreditation through the Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality (CIHQ) at both of our San Antonio locations: The Rim and Hardy Oak. This achievement reflects our commitment to meeting nationally recognized healthcare standards and maintaining a strong focus on patient safety, quality of care, and operational excellence.
Through the CIHQ accreditation process, both facilities underwent an independent evaluation of their policies, procedures, clinical practices, and overall operations. As a freestanding emergency care provider, we understand the importance of maintaining the highest standards in emergency medicine. Our accreditation reinforces our dedication to providing patients with safe, reliable, and high-quality care when they need it most.
CIHQ ID: 5039 · Valid until October 16, 2029
CIHQ ID: 5038 · Valid until October 16, 2029
At Full Spectrum Emergency Room & Urgent Care, our commitment to quality healthcare goes beyond achieving accreditation. It is reflected in the care we provide every day, the standards we uphold, and the trust our patients place in us. We are dedicated to continually evaluating and improving our services, maintaining a safe environment, and ensuring our team is equipped to deliver exceptional emergency and urgent care.
Our CIHQ accreditation reinforces our responsibility to remain accountable, uphold high standards, and continuously strive for better patient care. Whether a patient visits us for an urgent medical concern or a life-threatening emergency, our mission remains the same: to provide compassionate, high-quality care when it matters most.
One Facility. Full Spectrum Care. One Commitment to Quality.
Questions? Call The Rim at (210) 530-1040 or Hardy Oak at (210) 998-3090.
