HFAP takes action following the CMS Infection Control Study of Ambulatory Surgical Centers

June 23, 2010 - PRLog -- When the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its study on infection control in ambulatory surgical centers, the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) took action. It revised its standards to reflect the new and expanded regulations put forth by CMS. Changes are described below.

HFAP was the first to volunteer for the submission of the newly implemented CMS Infection Control Worksheet. While this worksheet is used to document some aspects of compliance with standards, a large portion of the worksheet is used solely for the benefit of determining, on a national scale, current practices regarding infection control in ambulatory surgical centers (ASC). Federal agencies will use this information to better determine best practices and to shape future expectations relating to infection control.

HFAP has been an active member of the ASC Quality Collaboration which was formed in 2006. This organization brings together leaders from both the ambulatory surgery center industry and organizations with a focus on healthcare quality and safety. Recognizing the need for a method of assessing the care within the ASC setting, HFAP and other members have joined in a mutual effort to develop a standardized set of quality measures.

HFAP-accredited ASCs are strongly encouraged to voluntarily use the quality measures set developed by the collaborative and report findings to HFAP. Once data collected from the various facilities has been received, HFAP shares data with the ASC QC, who in turn includes data from other facilities and publicly reports on the ASC QC website. To view this information, visit: http://www.ascquality.org/qualityreport.cfm.

As before, HFAP surveys include a two-day review of the facility by a physician and a registered nurse, including the observation of an operative case from the point of patient registration through the same patient’s discharge.

All ASCs, regardless of accreditation, should consider the use of these quality indicators in their Quality Assessment Performance Improvement plans. A toolkit is provided, free of charge. For access to this toolkit, please visit: http://www.ascquality.org/qualitymeasures.cfm

Finally, HFAP will commit to and will guarantee a 30-day turnaround from an ambulatory surgical center’s application submission to the start of the survey. Before this change, HFAP’s policy stated a 90-day turnaround time, but that amount of time was never needed.

“We always delivered in under 30 days, so we decided to commit to that in writing,” said Mike Zarski, JD and CEO of HFAP. “This change is a Godsend, especially to new ambulatory surgical centers who are unable to begin to see patients until accredited.”

More information on HFAP may be found at http://www.hfap.org or by calling 312-202-8258.

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Chicago-based HFAP was founded in 1943 and began surveying hospitals in 1945. Originally founded to ensure quality patient care in osteopathic hospitals, HFAP has been accrediting all hospitals since 1966. Maintaining its deeming authority continuously since the inception of Medicare in 1965, HFAP provides accreditation to all hospitals, clinical laboratories, ambulatory surgical centers, and critical access hospitals. In addition, HFAP accredits mental health and physical rehabilitation facilities as well as office-based surgery. It also provides certification for primary stroke centers.

The program offers every healthcare facility the tools to assess and demonstrate commitment to providing quality care and the current safety standards to their patients.

HFAP accreditation is recognized by the federal government, state departments of public health, insurance carriers and managed care organizations.