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ASCs in the news: The Joint Commission's 2009 patient safety goals include new requirements for ASCs

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, June 24, 2008

The Joint Commission announced its 2009 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) and related requirements for each of its accreditation programs and its Disease-Specific Care Certification Program on June 17, according to a Joint Commission news release. A number of the new and updated goals apply to ASCs. The NPSGs promote improvements in patient safety by providing proven solutions to patient safety problems.

The release reports the following new requirements in effect for ASCs:

• Preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections 
• Preventing surgical site infections

(The new infection-related requirements have a one-year phase-in period that includes defined milestones, with full implementation expected by January 1, 2010. ASCs will be required to meet quarterly deadlines.) 

• Eliminating transfusion errors related to patient misidentification 
• Engaging patients in their care. New areas include infection control, prevention of surgical adverse events, and patient identification

Existing requirements under the Universal Protocol have also been improved for 2009, according to the news release. Changes to these requirements, which help prevent errors in surgical and noninvasive surgical procedures, include the following: 

• Procedure verification 
• Marking the procedure site 
• Conducting a “time out” immediately before starting procedures

Facilities should examine the 2009 NPSGs closely, according to an eblast sent to subscribers to HCPro, Inc.’s Briefings on Patient Safety. The cost-benefit implications of the new requirements may be substantial. 

To read the Joint Commission news release, click here.

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