Guidelines for Understanding Accreditation

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The majority of cosmetic surgical procedures performed in 2005 took place in non-hospital settings – 48 percent in an office-based facility and 28 percent in a freestanding surgical center.

With proper safety precautions in place, surgery performed outside of a hospital can be as safe as it is within. Even more, procedures performed in office-based and independent surgical centers offer certain advantages, including privacy, affordability, and comfort.

Still, in order to ensure safety, patients should understand how non-hospital surgical settings are regulated. The following are a few guidelines for understanding accreditation:

  • No national regulations exist with regard to safety outside of hospital settings. Only state-sponsored regulations, which vary according to state, govern the safety of these facilities, their staff, and equipment.
  • Independent accrediting organizations have individual standards for its member facilities. Generally, however, accredited facilities must pass peer-reviewed inspections, employ specially trained and qualified medical staff, undergo regular safety inspections, and meet certain standards of emergency training.
  • The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgery both require their members to perform all surgical procedures in properly accredited facilities.
  • The four reputable accrediting organizations are:
    • The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF)
    • The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
    • The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare (AAAHC)
    • The American Osteopathic Association (AOA)

Consumer Tips

  • Ask your surgeon if the procedure will be performed in a facility accredited by one of the four major accrediting associations. If so, is the facility in good standing?
  • Find out if the facility is where the surgeon performs similar surgical procedures to the one you're considering.
  • Ask about the emergency plan. Where is the nearest hospital and does the surgeon have staff privileges?
  • Find out when the facility received its most recent accreditation review.

Considering plastic surgery? Please contact us to find a board certified plastic surgeon near you.


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