A new patient safety law that took effect this week will require New York State physician practices that perform office-based surgical procedures to achieve and maintain accreditation from a nationally recognized accrediting organization. The state has designated the Joint Commission as one of the accrediting bodies that it will recognize.
Prior to this new legislation, surgeries performed in physicians’ offices were not regulated in New York State. Many types of office practices are affected by the new law, including endoscopy suites, plastic surgery practices, and urology practices. If not already accredited by the Joint Commission or two other approved accrediting agencies, office-based surgery practices in New York must become accredited on or before July 14, 2009.
The law reflects a national trend of state health departments and boards of medicine strengthening their oversight of quality efforts. Currently, 25 states recognize Joint Commission accreditation for ambulatory care settings--in whole or in part--in fulfillment of regulatory requirements, and 14 states recognize Joint Commission accreditation for office-based surgery. Read the news release.
