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Accreditation associations agree on definition of adverse medical event in OBS

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, November 10, 2005

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Three national accrediting associations have agreed upon a definition of "reportable adverse events in office-based surgery (OBS)," according to a press release from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

The associations also agreed upon what data elements, in the event of an adverse medical event, should be reported and analyzed.

The associations involved in the collaboration were the American Association of Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF), Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC), and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The collaboration was facilitated by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and sponsored by the ASPS, which requires all of its members operating in OBS facilities to be accredited.

"The move toward state-level mandatory adverse event reporting requirements and quality improvement is an important trend in health care," said AAAHC President Francis DiPlacido, DMD, FACD.

"Currently there are about 13 states that have mandatory reporting requirements for OBS facilities, but there is no consistency in the definitions of adverse reportable events. Our agreement is intended to help legislators or regulators in setting high standards for quality health care in OBS facilities," DiPlacido said.

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