ASC Industry Provides Recommendations to HHS on an Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections
Washington, D.C. – On Monday, October 11, 2010, the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA), the ASC Advocacy Committee (ASCAC), and the ASC Quality Collaboration (ASCQC) delivered a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with comments regarding HHS’s draft Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections: Ambulatory Surgical Centers.
In the letter, ASC industry leaders provide recommendations to Secretary Sebelius on several areas outlined in the action plan, including: the need to invest in research to serve as a foundation for an evidence-based plan appropriate for the outpatient surgical setting; and the importance of building upon current industry initiatives aimed at eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in ASCs.
“ASCs are committed to providing the highest quality care in the safest and most cost-effective setting possible,” said David Shapiro M.D., Chair of the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and a Partner at the Ambulatory Surgery Company. “We are proud of our industry’s efforts to fight HAIs and believe the most effective action plan will build upon the strong efforts that we as an industry have in place.”
The ASC industry voluntarily began its own efforts at collecting and reporting quality data several years ago through the ASCQC, and has developed quality measures appropriate for the industry, six of which are endorsed by the National Quality Forum. Data aggregated from the most recent ASCQC 2010 Second Quarter Report shows that ASCs have extremely low rates of medical errors and few complications.
Similarly, national data collected by the ASC Association from more than 650 ASCs through its Outcomes Monitoring Project shows that 80 percent of ASCs report fewer than 1.5 post-surgical wound infections per 1,000 patients encountered.
The letter also addresses ASC industry recommendations for creating transparency across surgical settings; incentivizing providers to make investments that will reduce HAIs; and ensuring that the metrics proposed for the industry are the most appropriate ones for the needs and capabilities of the outpatient setting.
“According to our data, ASCs achieve excellent outcomes for patients and high levels of patient satisfaction,” said Andrew Hayek, Chairman of the ASCAC and President and CEO of Surgical Care Affiliates. “The ASC industry supports an action plan that would provide comparable information about patient safety and care quality in ASCs and HOPDs. Such information would empower consumers and their physicians to chose the most valuable and appropriate setting for their outpatient surgical care.”
The ASC industry will continue to engage with HHS as it solidifies its action plan and remains committed to delivering quality, patient-centered surgical care.
About ASCs
ASCs are an integral part of the health care system, providing critical access to surgical and diagnostic care, including preventive services. Currently, ASCs provide about 40 percent of all outpatient surgeries, more than 22 million procedures, in 5,300 Medicare-certified ASCs across the United States.
About the Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee
The Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee (ASCAC) is working on behalf of the industry to raise awareness of the important role that ASCs play in the health care system and the high-quality, cost-effective care that ASCs provide. The ASCAC includes the national and state ASC associations as well as representatives of all types of ASC operators and physicians. For more information about ASCs, visit www.advancingsurgicalcare.com.
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