|
From the office to a hospital, there are many different
places where your surgery may take place, and each one
has advantages and disadvantages.
With significant advances in the last ten years to
increase safety, recovery and healing times, most cosmetic
surgery now takes place on an outpatient (ambulatory)
basis. This means that you check in, have your surgery,
and go home all on the same day.
Options for outpatient surgery locations include the
office exam room, office operating room, surgery center,
or hospital.
Surgical Facility Accreditation
Fifty years ago, only hospitals were inspected, reviewed
and given a "seal of approval". Now, with
so many surgeries being performed in surgery centers
or office operating rooms, almost all operating rooms
will voluntarily undergo an accreditation process to
assure patient safety.
The accrediting organizations verify that national
standards are met and maintained in such categories
as the OR environment, policies and procedures, safety,
equipment, and handling of blood and medications.
They check that the cosmetic surgeon has hospital privileges
(so that he or she can admit you to the hospital in
case of emergency), keeps adequate records, has emergency
plans, and they verify the credentials of the surgeon
and all staff members.
The three national organizations that offer accreditation
are JCAHO, AAAASF, and AAAHC. (Medicare also offers
accreditation, but it is not necessary for elective
procedures-- only for cases requesting reimbursement
from Medicare insurance).
All of these organizations have websites that you can
search to see if your plastic surgeon or cosmetic surgery
facility is accredited.
JCAHO (referred to as "Jay-co") is the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of HealthCare Facilities.
AAAHC is the Accreditation
Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
AAAASF ("quad-A") is the American
Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical
Facilities.
The AAAASF classifies their accreditation of ambulatory
facilities into three levels: A, B, or C. In Class A
approved facilities, procedures may only be performed
under local or topical anesthesia without IV sedation.
Class A/B facilities may also administer IV sedation.
Class A/B/C facilities may administer local, IV sedation,
or general anesthesia.
To Next Section -
Where Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Is Performed
|
