AAAHC Standards for Itinerant Practitioners

1. Anesthesia services are provided for surgical procedures performed only by health care practitioners who have been accredited by the itinerant organization in accordance with Standard 2F American Association for Ambu latory Health Care (AAAHC) provisions for assignment of credentials.

2. The informed consent of any patient for the nature of anesthesia planned and/or surgery to be performed, or if applicable, of the patient representative, is obtained before the procedure is performed.

3. When hospitalization is indicated to evaluate, stabilize, and transfer patients when emergencies or unplanned outcomes occur, the itinerant anesthesia organization is responsible for ensuring the contracted organization either has a written transfer agreement for transferring patients to a nearby hospital or permits elective surgery only by practitioners who have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. If an organization does not have a written transfer agreement for transferring patients to a nearby hospital, then the organization shall have a detailed procedural plan for each site of service for handling medical emergencies and this plan shall be submitted to AAAHC for review during the survey process.

4. A safe environment for providing anesthesia services is ensured through the provision of adequate space, equipment, supplies, medications, and appropriately trained personnel.

5. Emergency power adequate for the type of surgery/service being performed is available in operative and recovery areas.