New York OBS Accreditation: Specific Issues to Note

The following items are specific issues that are unique to being accredited as an OBS in New York as stated by the New York State Department of Health (DOH).

1. The AAAHC is required to include a New York State addendum to the accreditation application.
2. The AAAHC will discontinue processing the application and will notify the NY DOH under the following circumstances.
   1. The applicant identifies itself as a business corporation or as a limited liability company;
   2. If the applicant identifies itself as a general partnership or registered limited liability partnership and all of its partners are not physicians;
   3. If the applicant identifies itself as a professional corporation and all of its shareholders, officers and directors are not physicians; or
   4. If the applicant identifies itself as a professional limited liability company and all of its members and managers are not physicians.
3. An accreditation certificate will be sent to the organization after the final decision is mailed to the organization. The accreditation award certificate will say accreditation only as an OBS. The organization must post the accreditation certificate and the additional items indicated below.
   1. That all patient complaints must be made to the Agency, with the appropriate phone number and/or e-mail address included; and
   2. That the OBS practice has not been licensed or certified and is not regulated by the New York State Department of Health or any other New York State or federal agency.
4. Adverse data must be reported.
1. Subdivision 4 of Section 230-d requires licensees to report “adverse events” to the Department of Health Patient Safety Center within one day of the occurrence of such adverse event. The term “adverse event” is defined in subdivision 1 of section 230-d. Subdivision 4 becomes effective January 14, 2008. The DOH has developed the “Adverse Event Form” which can be downloaded at http://www.health.state.ny.us/forms/doh-4431.pdf additionally; the DOH has guidance on how to file the form at http://www.health.state.ny.us/forms/instructions/doh-4431_instrucions.pdf.