The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has passed legislation that requires all physicians who perform outpatient procedures under sedation in their office settings to be accredited through one of the three approved accreditation agencies.
The following is an alert posted on the NY State DOH website:
“Alert
The deadline for accreditiation is approaching.
Pursuant to Public Health Law section 230-d, "Licensees" ( physicians, physician assistants and specialist assistants) who perform invasive or surgical procedures using more than minimal sedation must practice in an accredited setting. The Commissioner of Health designated The Joint Commission, the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAAASF) and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care(AAAHC) as the organizations which are authorized to perform the accreditation of practices which meet the definition of Office Based Surgery. A licensee who fails to practice in an accredited setting after July 14, 2009 may be guilty of professional misconduct.
Practices are encouraged to seek accreditation early because the process takes several months.”
The changes are prompted by patient safety advocacy groups that were concerned about the reports of adverse events occurring related to anesthesia use during procedures.
In a telephone interview with Randy Pigg co-founder of Conscious Sedation Consulting, a patient safety advocacy firm that offers education and training to physicians and dentist involved in sedation services, he stated that “ The New York State Department of Health is leading the way with these changes, we have seen similar legislation for the dental profession over the last decade in many states. At some point we should have a nationally recognized standard for sedation that insures safe practices from all health care providers who offer patients sedation and analgesia services.”
This change affects approximately 2300 physicians in N.Y.
Source: Med News Intl.
