Most ambulatory surgery providers will seek accreditation for compliance, insurance, and even advertising purposes. Many practices work with an ambulatory surgery center accreditation consultant to prepare for the process. If you're uncertain whether you ought to hire a consultant, here are five reasons to ask one to assist you.
Knowledge
Especially during the initial accreditation process, you are likely going to encounter issues you've rarely thought about. A consultant has worked with other practices during their accreditation. They can tell you what to look for to ensure that your practice will be up to the standards. After an initial walkthrough, they can tell you where the center needs to improve. The consultant can then do as many follow-ups as needed to ensure that everyone and everything at your practice meets the accreditation standards.
Independence
You and your staff members take pride in the work you've done toward accreditation. However, that means that you don't have a particularly independent view of the situation. An ASC accreditation services professional will come into your center without that personal investment. If they see something that's off even slightly, they're going to record and report it. This independent approach ensures that the initial assessment of your center's performance will be as rigorous as the actual accreditation process.
Customized Advice
Every ambulatory surgery practice will be a bit different from the others. Doctors, nurses, and technicians will all have experience working in different fields, too. Your practice may need customized advice regarding how to comply with the accreditation standards.
Continuing Training and Education
Ideas and technologies in the medical field change all of the time. Even if you're confident that you generally know how to meet the ASC standards, you still may need to update your training. Staff members can also work with the consultant to further their education. When the time comes for accreditation or renewal, you can rest assured that you're as up-to-date on the standards as possible.
Nitpicky Assessments
Another advantage of working with a consultant before accreditation is that they can nitpick everything. Not only will this aid in the accreditation process, but it'll improve patient safety. You want everybody on your team to be as painfully thorough as possible about patient hygiene, equipment maintenance, and safety practices. If even one thing is slightly wrong, you want to hear about it now. You can then be confident that you and the consultant have picked through every imaginable detail.
For more information, reach out to an ambulatory surgery center accreditation consultant near you.