New York is among many states taking measures to ensure quality improvement in health care and the protection of public safety.

In July 2007, the State of New York passed a law mandating that all doctors performing office-based surgery requiring certain levels of anesthesia or sedation have their offices reviewed and accredited by July 14, 2009, or face penalties from the state medical board.  The new law defines office-based surgery as a surgical or invasive procedure requiring general anesthesia, moderate or deep sedation, and certain liposuction procedures performed in a location other than a hospital.

In addition, beginning Jan. 14, 2008, all “adverse events” occurring in these offices must be reported to the state Department of Health. “Adverse events” include a patient death within thirty days; an unplanned transfer to a hospital; an unscheduled hospital admission within seventy-two hours of the office-based surgery, for longer than twenty-four hours; or any other serious or life-threatening event. For the Adverse Event Report Form and Instructions, please visit www.health.state.ny.us/forms/doh-4431.pdf.

New York Commissioner Richard F. Daines has announced that the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (Accreditation Association/AAAHC) is a designated accrediting organization for office-based surgery practice accreditation.

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