According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, three out of every four surgeries performed during the calendar year 2003 were performed outside the hospital setting. Approximately one out of every two procedures was performed in an office based facility and approximately one out of every four procedures was performed in a free standing surgery center.
Office based and free standing surgery centers are nothing more than alternatives borne from the excessive costs charged by hospital operating rooms for elective procedures during the 1980s. Enterprising physicians and rogue hospital administrators thought they could do it better and cheaper on their own – and they did. Investors found that these alternative surgery centers were very profitable and patients found that they were cheaper. They soon became the preferred place for performing outpatient procedures.
Published data clearly shows that accredited facilities have safety records comparable to hospital ambulatory settings. That’s great news – what isn’t is that the majority of outpatient facilities are unaccredited. So, how do you find out about the facility that your surgeon will be using? It’s very simple – buyer beware: you ask.
Start by asking your surgeon where the procedure will be performed – in the office, or at a surgery center or hospital? If it won’t be done at the office, make a note of the facility’s name so you can follow up on all the information you receive.
Find out if the facility is accredited by a nationally or state recognized accrediting agency, or if the facility is licensed by the state or if the facility is certified by Medicare. If the answer to any of those questions is “yes,” then you’re in the clear. Nationally recognized accrediting agencies include the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
