Effective March 1, 2013, ASCs will no longer be required to submit the Physical Environment Checklist with their Application.
Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) submitting Applications for Medicare Deemed Status surveys on or after March 1, 2013, will no longer be required to submit a completed copy of the Physical Environment Checklist. Onsite verification of compliance with the 2000 edition of NFPA 101 The Life Safety Code© will occur during each Medicare Deemed Status survey. ASCs for which Deemed Status surveys are conducted may see an increase in the number of surveyors and an increase in the time spent onsite.
From March 1st, the Physical Environment Checklist will be included as an integral part of the 2013 Accreditation Handbook Including Medicare Requirements for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). However, the Checklist will still be available as an individual publication, since it remains a very valuable tool that ASCs may use to self-assess compliance with the requirements of the Life Safety Code© and to achieve readiness for a Deemed Status survey.
Please note that ASCs submitting an Application for Deemed Status Survey on or after March 1, 2013, will be surveyed under the 2013 Accreditation Handbook Including Medicare Requirements for ASCs. (Applications for both Deemed Status and Non-Deemed Status submitted PRIOR to the March date, with a survey date BEFORE July 1, will be surveyed under the 2012 Standards.)
Changes to the Standards effective with all 2013 Accreditation Handbooks are available for review on our website at www.aaahc.org.
Here’s to your success,
NB