Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 17 August 2020:  Following the recent downward trend in the COVID-19 cases around the world, most medical establishments have started returning to normalcy. In most of the countries, including some states in the USA, governments have eased stay-at-home restrictions and have supported systematic re-opening of surgery centers and permitted them to conduct non-essential and elective procedures. 

The same goes with the UAE as well, whereby the facilities across the emirate of Dubai have been cleared to operate with a reduced schedule and enhanced sanitation measures. This certainly marks a significant step in the UAE’s road to recovery from the pandemic.

In light of the recent positive developments, the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) has resumed normal survey operations while continuing to monitor the COVID-19 trends and supervise local events within the environment, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both surveyors and facility staff. 

AAAASF has also released guidelines and resources for re-opening the facilities with utmost safety during the pandemic. The AAAASF team has been continuing to work in its standard capacity to assist facilities through the full survey and accreditation process - including sharing implementation measures in response to COVID-19 and general survey preparations. 

As the UAE is witnessing a significant decline in the COVID-19 cases, AAAASF has received several new accreditation applications from day surgery centers and facilities, including centers that have previously submitted accreditation applications and were awaiting their survey. 

AAAASF has recently surveyed the first new center carried out by a UAE-based trained surveyor. Due to the increased awareness of infection control and the risks associated with aerosolizing procedures, AAAASF also received enquiries for accreditation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a specific focus on dentistry. 
AAAASF has been promoting safe healthcare practices in the region for over 40 years. It strives for the highest standards in excellence for its facilities by regularly updating its requirements for patient safety and quality of care while requiring facilities to continually self-assess and evolve.