If you run an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, or the Conejo Valley, then you need to know about changes to Joint Commission guidelines. Beginning January 1, 2014, accreditation standards will change, while others remain the same. Updated certification guidelines, however, are effective immediately. Is your medical center up to code? Find out…
Joint Commission Guidelines for 2014
Beginning January, 2014- many Joint Commission standards for hospitals will remain while several others will be altered or deleted. Listed is a quick run-down of ambulatory care standards that take effect:- HR.01.02.07 (EPs 1 and 2) and HR.02.01.03 (EP 4) cross references apply to ambulatory care.
- Joint Commission requirements regarding all information submitted electronically for Focused Standards Assessments (FSAs) must be compliant.
- CONT04- If your ASC is under review for deemed status from the Joint Commission, then one or more “Conditions for Coverage” scores include Condition-level deficiency.
- LS.01.01.01 (EP 3)
- AFS06- Failure to comply to Intracycle Monitoring requirements
- AFS08- Applies to all Medicare-compliant deemed-status ambulatory care centers that have one or more Conditions for Coverage scores listed as Condition-level deficiency.
- A 1-month survey will be required when a) laboratory accreditation is more than 24 months old; or b) an ambulatory surgery center that provides laboratory services cannot adequately prove compliance to Joint Commission standards.
- PA01- Regarding Preliminary Accreditation, ambulatory medical will undergo two surveys; first, a survey including a defined subset of applicable standards; later a “full announced” survey that seals the Preliminary Accreditation decision.
- Life Safety Code requirements – 42 CFR 416.44(a)(1) – ASCs must maintain acceptable guidelines in operating rooms.
ASC standards under proposal
The following changes that affect ambulatory care centers are still being reviewed:- Constraints regarding issuing test sample medications for ambulatory surgical care, behavioral health, home care, and critical access hospitals.
- Primary Care Medical Home certification revisions for ambulatory care centers.