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Surgeons required to work in accredited centers

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, April 28, 2005

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The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) requires new members to perform surgeries in accredited facilities as of January 2007. Accredited bodies include the AAAHC, the JCAHO, state agencies, or Medicare-approved organizations.

"We want to make sure incoming surgeons know the full scope of care-not just the clinical side, but patient safety," says Jeff Knezovich, executive vice president of AACS.

Most already live up to the standard

More than 60% of AACS members already own accredited facilities or work as partners with accredited organizations, Knezovich says. "We encourage members to accredit their facilities or ask organizations if they are accredited before joining them," he says.

Accreditation is a marketplace issue. Many states mandate accreditation now, and a lot of organizations view it as a positive credential to acquire. The AACS' new requirement acknowledges these trends, Knezovich says.

Details that affect you

The AACS doesn't want this new requirement to be a chore, so they offered these tips to prepare for the 2007 responsibility:

• This measure affects AACS fellow members-not associate, resident, or international.

• Although all new members must prove they perform surgeries in accredited facilities, standing members will not be held to this requirement. The AACS focuses on educating preexisting members.

• The surgeon's accredited facility, not the surgeon, must send a certificate of evidence to the AACS.

• If AACS applicants need to find accredited bodies, check out accreditation Web sites, such as www.aaahc.org and www.jcaho.org.

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