New office-based surgery guidelines are coming
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, is drafting standards for the accreditation of office-based surgery practices. The draft standards were developed in consultation with practitioners in the field, national health care organizations, and industry experts. The office-based standards are patient-centered, focusing on six essential patient care areas:
• quality of care;
• patient safety;
• improving care and improving health;
• qualified and competent staff;
• responsible leadership;
• customer service.
Although the 2000-2001 Comprehensive Accred-itation Manual for Ambulatory Care (CAMAC) is applicable to small office-based surgery practices, feedback has indicated that the comprehensive nature of the manual can be overwhelming to small settings. In response, the Joint Commission reviewed the CAMAC and consulted with practitioners. Earlier this year, the Joint Commission’s Ambulatory Care Users Group made recommendations on the draft standards and survey process for office-based surgery practices.
Additional field review of the standards is under way, and analysis of the responses is expected to be completed shortly. The standards will be reviewed at the October meeting of the Standards and Survey Procedures Committee and are expected to go into effect Nov. 1, 2000.
Office-based surgery practices interested in becoming accredited by the Joint Commission can obtain an application by calling Mike Dye in the accreditation program department at (630) 792-5259 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.
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