ASCs Must Use Surgical Checklist by January 2012

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is calling on all ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) to use a safe surgical checklist starting January 1, 2012. CMS’s new Medicare quality reporting program will require all Medicare-certified ASCs to report whether or not they used a “safe surgery checklist” during the entire year of 2012. No financial penalties will be given if an ASC does not comply with the requirement; however, CMS plans to make reports available to the public that indicate whether an ASC complied with the requirement. ASCs will be subject to financial penalties associated with this requirement in future years.

ASCs do not have to use a particular checklist in order to meet the requirement; however, CMS does require the use of a checklist that addresses effective communication and safe surgery practices in each of three perioperative periods (where applicable): (1) prior to administering anesthesia, (2) prior to the start of a procedure, and (3) prior to the patient leaving the operating room.

Organizations providing information and checklist templates

World Health Organization - Safe Surgery Saves Lives

    Oregon IHI Network - Safe Surgery Checklist (adapted for hospitals from the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist)

Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) - Comprehensive Surgical Checklist

Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program - Surgical Checklist Initiative