ASC Accreditation, Licensure & Medicare Certification

The following article was originally published in Preventing Infection in Ambulatory Care, the quarterly e-publication from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). To learn more about receiving this resource and joining APIC, visit www.apic.org/ambulatorynewsletter. To learn…

Yellowstone Surgery Center in Cheyenne, Wyo., has achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), according to a news release from Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.

Q: As a relatively small center, wouldn't it be easier for us to buy drugs and supplies like alcohol swabs from a local pharmacy?   Sheldon Sones: The recent recall of alcohol swabs and lubricating jelly from Triad/McKesson reminds us…

Since sterilization of surgical instruments is a key component of patient safety and infection prevention, ambulatory surgery centers must take extra caution and ensure sterilization is performed in an efficient and effective manner. Joan Blanchard, MSS, BSN, RN, CNOR, CIC,…

Sheldon S. Sones, RPh, FASCP, is president of Sheldon S. Sones and Associates, a pharmacy and accreditation consulting firm based in Newington, Conn.   Q: We simply can't get a drug since it is backordered from every supplier we reach…

Vision-based hand gesture recognition technology could be the way of the future for hospital or ASC operating rooms, as it could help reduce the risk of infection and delays in surgery, according to Purdue University news release.

In 2004, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality developed the "Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture", a staff survey designed to help hospitals and other providers assess the culture of safety in their institutions. Since then, hundreds of hospitals…

One challenge standing in the way of physician-involvement in infection control programs in ambulatory surgery centers is lack of time. Tina Piotrowski, clinical director of Northwest Michigan Surgery Center in Traverse City, Mich., shares five ways ASCs can improve physician-involvement…

Following a recent recall of potentially contaminated non-sterile alcohol prep pads, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today reminded health care professionals about the safe use of non-sterile alcohol prep pads to clean and disinfect the surface of the skin,…

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has published a patient fact sheet called "20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors." This fact sheet is not only valuable for patients but providers can use it as well. Consider providing these…