The following comment is from John Burke, PhD, executive vice president and CEO for AAAHC, in response to the report on One in Four N.J. ASCs Reusing Single-Dose Vials.
John Burke: The article, "One in Four N.J. ASCs Reusing Single-Dose Vials," underscores how important it is for ASCs to undergo an independent evaluation to be certain they meet established standards of care. Accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC/Accreditation Association) or another recognized ASC accrediting body requires ASCs to review their policies and procedures and identify and correct any practices that do not meet nationally recognized standards for patient safety.
The Accreditation Association also has joined with other organizations to form the Safe Injection Practices Coalition, which specifically states that single-dose vials should not be re-used. Our 2010 Standards include consolidated information about this and other aspects of infection control in a single, new chapter. Important resources and links on this topic are on our website at www.aaahc.org.
Learn more about Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.