AAAASF Certification

The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF) is an organization that grants certification to surgery centers, based on their ability to maintain hospital standards in outpatient and office-based settings. Established in 1980, the AAAASF has been dedicated to improving patient safety standards for many years, strives to set the “Gold Standard in Accreditation”.

What Are the Requirements for AAAASF Certification?

The association is continually revising and updating its requirements, and by making regular visits to its members surgery centers to ensure that its accredited facilities attain the highest levels of patient care standards. The main requirements for certification are:

• Facilities be fully equipped to perform its surgical procedures
• Surgeons be board certified, and have hospital privileges
• Deeper levels of anesthesia be administered by an anesthesiologist
• Surgical environments be clean and safe
• Case data be tracked and subject to peer review
• Pass thorough initial survey by inspector and meet 100% of applicable standards
• Be re-evaluated yearly by self-survey, and by surveyor survey every three years
• Prominently display accreditation certificate

What Does The AAAASF Offer?

The AAAASF offers their customers step-by-step guidance throughout the accreditation process. Once contacted, the AAAASF will assign the client a personal accreditation specialist, who will work with the client along each step of the process. The specialist will help the client prepare for a thorough survey that will involve the following areas:

• Personnel
• Medical Records
• Disaster Preparedness
• General Safety
• Quality Assurance
• Clinical Preparedness

Who Are The Surveyors?

The AAASF facility surveyors are certified health care specialists who have been trained to follow standard procedures. They also receive ongoing training and certification needed to perform the surveys. Some of the requirements for surveyors include:

• Participation in a team with the appropriate size and composition for the facility
• Ability to conduct accurate surveys as outlined in the surveyor handbook
• Ability to complete thorough review based on the AAAASF schedule and checklist
• Follow time guidelines
• Complete forms and documentation as required in the surveyor handbook
• Return documentation to the AAAASF on time
• Complete a deficiency form for each deficiency
• Review deficiencies and verify corrections

The AAAASF Certification Process

In order to obtain AAAASF accreditation, there is a large number of documents that must be submitted. Once completed, the applicant will mail the packet to the AAAASF for review. After the paperwork has been reviewed and approved, a surveyor visit will be scheduled. The application will then be sent to an accreditation committee for approval. Upon approval, accreditation will be active and the applicant will be notified. Most applications can be finalized within 3-5 months.

What Are The AAAASF Facility Classes?

Every outpatient facility seeking to be accredited by the AAAASF must meet the standards for its class. The available classifications are (A, B, C-M, or C). These classes correspond to the level of anesthesia being administered as follows:

Class A:  Minimal sedation performed using

• Topical Anesthesia
• Local Anesthesia

Class B:  Moderate sedation performed using

• Topical Anesthesia
• Local Anesthesia
• Parenteral Sedation
• Field and Peripheral Nerve Blocks
• Dissociative Drugs

Class C-M:  Deep sedation performed using

• Topical Anesthesia
• Local Anesthesia
• Parenteral Sedation
• Field and Peripheral Nerve Blocks
• Dissociative Drugs
• Spinal anesthesia
• Epidural anesthesia

Class C:  Deep sedation performed using

• Topical Anesthesia
• Local Anesthesia
• Parenteral Sedation
• Field and Peripheral Nerve Blocks
• Dissociative Drugs
• Spinal anesthesia
• Epidural anesthesia
• General anesthesia

5 Keys To Accreditation Success

In order to ensure your application is processed as quickly and smoothly as possible, make these 5 keys your top priorities:

1.     Choose The Most Appropriate Accreditation Agency – AAAASF specializes in office-based surgical practices and has much experience in the field

2.     Use the Available Resources – AAAASF has many resources and checklists including those needed for self-survey, in order to prepare

3.     Focus on Patient Safety – Patient safety has always been the primary focus of the AAAASF requirements

4.     Keep Up To Date Records - Maintain physician licenses, etc.

5.     Participate Actively - Working closely with the surveyors and specialists

Will A Backup Power System Be Required?

The AAAASF Standards Manual and Checklist V15.1 section 200.80 specifies emergency power requirements for accreditation. It states that for classes B,C-M,C, the following is required:

The operating room and recovery room have an emergency power source —such as a generator or battery powered inverter—with capacity to operate adequate monitoring, anesthesia, surgical equipment, cautery, and lighting for a minimum of 2 hours. 

 

And also:

The emergency power source is able to begin generating ample power to operate essential electrical equipment used in the surgery room within 30 seconds of a power failure.

Where Can I Find A Battery Powered Inverter?

Medi-Products has been a dependable manufacturer of Battery Backup Systems for surgery centers. These systems have been pre-sized for different surgery types, and designed to last for the required two hours, for each practice type equipment type:

• Cosmetic Surgery Battery Backup
• Vascular Surgery Battery Backup
• Pain Management Battery Backup
• OB/GYN Battery Backup
• GI Medicine Battery Backup
  
  

Custom sized systems are also available. To request an assessment for a custom sized system please complete the request and assessment form, and a battery backup specialist will be assigned to help you.