Assisted Living: Dealing With Everyone's Emotions

A Guide To Surgery Center Accreditation And Why It's Important

25 April 2022 by Julia Gregory

Surgery centers are accredited by the Joint Commission, which is a non-profit organization that certifies health care organizations and programs in the United States.

Here is a bit of information to help you understand the importance of surgery center accreditation and what it takes to get your facility accredited.

What Are the Benefits of Surgery Center Accreditation?

Surgery center certification is important for hospitals, surgeons, and patients. The benefits of surgical center accreditation include:

• Patient safety. Patients are more likely to have a safe and successful procedure.
• Facility reputation. Accreditation helps confirm the quality of care that the center provides. 
• Consumer confidence. Patients will be more likely to choose the facility when they need surgery.

How to Become a Certified Surgery Center

Steps to Take Before You Apply for Accreditation

The first step in the process of getting your surgery center accredited is to determine if the facility is eligible. There are a number of requirements that need to be met before you can apply for accreditation:

• You must have a licensed and practicing physician who has surgical privileges at the facility on duty during all hours that the surgery center is open or have a written agreement with an adjacent hospital for use of its surgical facilities in an emergency situation.
• You must provide 24-hour coverage by registered nurses or other qualified personnel.
• You must maintain an anesthesia technician on duty at all times, or have a written agreement with an adjacent hospital

Written Surgical Center Policies Required by the Joint Commission for Accreditation

The Joint Commission has a list of requirements that surgery centers must meet before they can be certified. These requirements include written policies, such as:

• A  surgical services policy
• An infection control policy
• A disaster plan
• Procedures for quality improvement, patient safety, and infection control
• Procedures for medication management
• Procedures for emergency preparedness

Additionally, the center must have the following:

• Designated space for sterilization and disinfection
• Adequate space for storing supplies
• Aseptic technique training for staff
• Appropriate equipment for surgery procedures

In the medical field, it is important to maintain a good reputation and avoid lawsuits. Accreditation can help you do this by providing quality standards that your facility must meet in order to receive certification.

To learn more about surgery center certifications and the steps that your facility needs to take to prepare for accreditation, schedule a consultation with a medical accreditation specialist in your local area.

Share

Search