During a declared disaster when the demand for inpatient care is high, can hospitals use ASCs as alternative sites for providing inpatient care ?

Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.

While there are no specific Joint Commission standards that address this practice, on April 3, 2020 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memorandum from their Quality, Safety & Oversight Group (QSO) that provides Guidance for Processing Attestation Statements from Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) Temporarily Enrolling as Hospitals during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. 

Organizations choosing this option should notify their Account Executive of this change to keep us informed of your status and the impact of the COVID situation. Choosing this option will NOT result in an extension survey.  Please continue to work closely with your local, state and federal agencies to help manage the demand for additional resources. 

Organizations that use Joint Commission accreditation for deemed status purposes should monitor the CMS website as waivers are being approved frequently and may include state-specific waivers. Click here to access the CMS website for COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers.

After the state of emergency ends (national, federal, or local level depending upon which allows the most time to address), organizations have 60 days to complete these requirements.  Please notify your Account Executive that operations have returned to normal. 

Additional Resources:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance and Resources