Americans are increasingly turning to outpatient services offered in doctors' offices rather than in hospitals or accredited ambulatory surgery centers. The July 20 Wall Street Journal article, "Seeking a Safer Surgery" examines the potential risks faced by patients.
Outpatient surgery in a doctor's office is favorable because it often costs less and is more accessible than scheduling the procedure in a hospital or ambulatory surgery center. However, many offices are not accredited by a recognized agency or certified by CMS, which require strict standards for training and facility conditions. Doctors are accountable only to their licensing standards. They may choose to have their offices accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, The Joint Commission, or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, but many do not want to face the cost of surveying.
Many states have started imposing regulation on doctor's offices that offer outpatient surgery to diminish the potential safety risk.
To read the full article, click here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204900904574300273421953260.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Source: The Wall Street Journal
No comments:
Post a Comment