UOC Earns International ACHC Accreditation for Clinical Quality and Patient Safety

The international certification validates compliance with rigorous standards for patient safety, clinical management and continuous improvement. The process included a comprehensive external evaluation that strengthens the quality and transparency of ophthalmology care in the Dominican Republic.

UOC (Unidad de Oftalmología y Catarata) has earned international accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), a United States-based organization that certifies health care institutions’ compliance with rigorous standards for patient safety, clinical management and continuous improvement.

The certification places UOC among ophthalmology centers operating under auditable international criteria. The voluntary external evaluation reviewed surgical protocols, quality-management systems, clinical risk management, staff training and organizational culture.

According to the institution, accreditation required a comprehensive review of clinical and administrative processes, with emphasis on clinical traceability, regulatory compliance, patient protection at every stage of care and mechanisms for sustained improvement.

“This accreditation validates, through measurable evidence, the structure under which we practice medicine. It required opening our protocols, systems and practices to a rigorous international evaluation aligned with standards that prioritize patient safety and quality of care,” said Dr. Servando M. Santana Rodríguez, UOC’s Chief Executive Officer.

ACHC evaluates indicators related to operating-room safety, risk management, infection control, adherence to clinical protocols, medical staff competence and structured process documentation. Its model requires not only initial compliance, but also continuous-improvement mechanisms and periodic audits.

Dr. Santana Rodríguez explained that the process also required strengthening internal policies, standardizing procedures and documenting clinical practices according to verifiable criteria. “Accreditation is not a one-time recognition, but an ongoing commitment to operational consistency and institutional transparency,” he said.

With 15 years of experience diagnosing and treating eye disease, UOC states that this certification is part of its strategy to raise the standard of ophthalmology care in the Dominican Republic and reinforce trust in internationally certified medical services.