Some surgical procedures can be performed safely in the doctor’s office or another ambulatory surgical facility. However, it is important to find out if the doctor has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure you are considering. Before granting operating privileges, hospital review committees evaluate a surgeon’s training and competency for specific procedures. If the doctor does not have hospital privileges to perform your procedure, look for another surgeon.
If the doctor operates in an ambulatory or office-based facility, ask if the facility is accredited. Although most states, including Utah, do not currently require ambulatory or office-based facilities to be accredited, voluntary application can be made to an accrediting body, such as the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). Facilities accredited by AAAASF have met strict requirements for all aspects of operation, and such accreditation denotes a high standard of care. As of July 2002, ASAPS members performing plastic surgery in which anesthesia (other than local anesthesia and/or minimal tranquilization) is used must operate in a facility that meets at least one of the following criteria: accredited by a national or state-recognized accrediting organization, state-licensed, or Medicare-certified.
