12/18/09 - Connnecticut Children’s Medical Center Obtains AAHRPP Accreditation
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center has earned full accreditation for its Human Research Protection Program from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs Inc (AAHRPP). Connecticut Children’s becomes one of only seven free-standing children’s hospitals in the country to claim this distinction, and is the first pediatric provider in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts to earn AAHRPP accreditation.
“Connecticut Children’s is the leading provider of pediatric services to children in the region and now stands alone as the only one to earn AAHRPP accreditation,” said Connecticut Children’s President and CEO Martin J. Gavin. “We believe that says a lot about our commitment to excellence, our wonderful physicians and staff, and our ongoing dedication to our mission—improving the physical and emotional health of children through family-centered care, research, education and advocacy.”
Gavin commended the team members from Connecticut Children’s who led the project including Francis DiMario, MD; Sarah Kiskaddon, JD and Jeanne Freeman, JD.
Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) also had high praise for Connecticut Children’s and its achievement of the AAHRPP accreditation.
“All medical research participants, but especially our children, should always be treated in a safe, responsible, and ethical manner,” Dodd said. “Connecticut Children's recent full accreditation from the AAHRPP reinforces the fact that they are a leader in providing top-notch care for Connecticut's kids. I applaud Connecticut Children’s and their excellent team of physicians and staff on receiving this distinguished accreditation, and look forward to hearing of their future research successes.”
AAHRPP is an independent, non-profit national accrediting body that requires institutions to not only meet, but surpass, legal and ethical guidelines at the federal and state level pertaining to the use of human subjects in research. AAHRPP utilizes a voluntary, peer-driven, educational model to ensure that programs meet rigorous standards for quality and protection, and AAHRPP accreditation is widely accepted as the “gold standard” for human research protection programs.
To obtain accreditation, Connecticut Children’s embarked upon an extensive and rigorous approval process that included a comprehensive self-assessment, an intensive on-site evaluation by a team of experts, and approval by the AAHRPP Council on Accreditation. The Council on Accreditation is comprised of leading physicians, researchers, human research protection administrators, and others with extensive experience in the area of human subjects protections.
