FAQ

	FAQ

Search for AAAASF Accredited
Surgery Facilities

Surgery Facility:
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question:

How long does it take to become accredited after we apply?

Answer:

Once your paperwork is complete and your floor plan has been approved, the AAAASF office can usually secure an inspector to evaluate your facility within 30 days. For Medicare accreditation, an additional Life Safety Code inspection must be performed prior to the AAAASF Medicare inspection.

Question:

What is the most common reason that a floor plan would not get approved?

Answer:

The most common reason is that the Operating Room suite is not separate and physically segregated from the general office area. The term "Operating Room Suite" refers to a group of rooms in the facility that must include the operating room(s), recovery room(s), clean room, dirty room, and prep/scrub area.

Question:

If we have a washer and dryer, where do we put it?

Answer:

The washer and dryer should be in the pre-sterilization area (dirty room) where the soiled instruments are prepared for sterilization.

Question:

Where do we put the autoclave?

Answer:

The autoclave should be in the clean room.

Question:

Should there be a partition that separates the instrument clean, prep, and assembly area if a single location is used for both?

Answer:

Yes, there should be a partition that separates the clean/dirty areas that is a minimum of 18 inches high if a single location is used.

Question:

For the Peer Review Program, is it a requirement that each surgeon in an accredited facility number their cases in a surgical log?

Answer:

Yes, when reporting random cases online, the surgeon must list the beginning and ending surgical log number. In addition, a case count (total number of cases done during that reporting period) is required as well.

Question:

When are the reporting periods for peer review?

Answer:

There are two reporting periods annually when you can report cases online. Surgical cases performed from January 1-June 31 can be reported from July 1-August 15 and cases performed from July 1-December 31 can be reported from January 1-February 15.

Question:

Standard 520-030 states, "The inventory of narcotics is checked and verified at least weekly and on any day that narcotics are administered by two qualified members of the operating room team. Who is considered qualified?

Answer:

Qualified OR team members include the surgeon, anesthesiologist, P.A., C.R.N.A, R.N. or L.P.N.

Question:

Standard 310-030 states, "A physician, C.R.N.A., or R.N. with Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification or who is otherwise qualified in resuscitation is immediately available until all patients have met the criteria for discharge from the surgical facility. Can a L.P.N. or O.R. technician that is qualified in resuscitation be available if a physician, C.R.N.A. or R.N. is not present?

Answer:

No. It must be a physician, C.R.N.A., or R.N.

Question:

If I have other questions not listed here, how can I get the answer?

Answer:

Qualified AAAASF personnel are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. central time toll free at 1-888-545-5222.