Who Is Eligible for Office-Based Surgery Accreditation?
Office practices that perform invasive procedures are eligible for accreditation under the Joint Commission’s Office-Based Surgery Accreditation Program. Since beginning the Office-Based Surgery accreditation program in 2001, The Joint Commission has completed surveys of many different surgical specialties, including plastic surgery, oral surgery, podiatric surgery, endoscopy and orthopedics.
Practices must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for accreditation under the Office-Based Surgery (OBS) program:
- The practice is comprised of four or fewer surgeons* (physician, dentist or podiatrist) performing operative or invasive procedures. OBS practices, including multi-site practices, are limited to four or fewer licensed independent practitioners;
- The practice must be surgeon owned or operated, e.g., a professional services corporation, private physician office, or small group practice;
- Invasive procedures are provided to patients. (Practices only providing procedures such as excisions of skin lesions, moles, warts, and abscess drainage limited to the skin and subcutaneous tissue are not typically surveyed under OBS standards;) and
- Local anesthesia, minimal sedation, conscious sedation or general anesthesia is administered. (However, laser eye surgery using topical anesthesia does qualify.)
Office-based practices that render four or more patients incapable of self-preservation at the same time are required to meet the provisions of the Life-Safety Code®. Practices may work with The Joint Commission to identify equivalencies to meet these requirements.
A typical on-site survey lasts one day. Practices that have more than one office, and still meet all of the above criteria, require a multiple-day survey. If you have more than one office site under the same ownership that meets all of the above criteria, or if you’re not sure if you would be eligible for this option, call (630) 792-5259.
*Surgeon includes physicians, dentists or podiatrists who meet the definition of a licensed independent practitioner (LIP). An LIP, as defined by The Joint Commission, is an individual permitted by law and by the practice to provide care, treatment and services without direction or supervision, within the scope of the individual’s license.