Auditing Organization (AO)
What is an auditing organization?
An auditing organization (AO) is a notified body, a third-party organization that focuses on Conformite Europeenne (CE) marking compliance and quality system audits through conformity assessments. They may also serve as a registrar that audits for QMS compliance related to an ISO standard, such as the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP).
An AO is overseen by a competent authority and/or accreditation body, such as the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), or Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
In addition to surveying the processes and practices of a healthcare facility, an AO will also offer action-oriented steps to improve the facility based on the report’s results.
How do AOs improve healthcare?
Healthcare audits evaluate the processes and practices at a healthcare facility. Some of the issues they can identify include improper billing practices, coding errors, poor patient experiences (and the reason behind them), and shortcomings in staff productivity.
By addressing the issues highlighted in an audit, the healthcare facility can increase its revenue, document accuracy, and patient experience.