The Joint Commission outlined four ways it's working to improve survey reliability for interpreting ambulatory care standards.

Mark Pelletier, RN, accepted new responsibilities at The Joint Commission and will now serve as chief nursing officer.

The Joint Commission's Survey Activity Guide for ambulatory care and office-based surgery organizations provides survey preparation guidance and descriptions of survey activities.

The Joint Commission surveyors adopted an entirely new approach to evaluating sterile medication compounding, suicide prevention, high-level disinfection and hemodialysis.

Charlotte (N.C.) Surgery Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

Saginaw, Mich.-based Mackinaw Surgery Center is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care reaccredited Dental Associates' dental centers. 

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care awarded Mason City (Iowa) Surgery Center accreditation.

The Joint Commission provided updated guidance concerning personnel tasked with documentation assistance.

The Joint Commission awarded Zanesville, Ohio-based Northpointe Surgical Suites advanced certification for total hip and total knee replacement June 14.

Working to meet accreditation standards can help ASCs sustain a safe environment and send a positive message to prospective patients or physicians, according to Surgical Information Systems.

Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program rolled out its Joint Replacement Certification program to recognize inpatient and outpatient settings demonstrating excellence in specialized orthopedic care.

Bloomington, Minn.-based Chu Surgery Center is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.

Mark G. Pelletier, RN, MS is The Joint Commission's COO of accreditation and certification operations and Chief Nursing Executive. 

Here are 12 outpatient centers that achieved accreditation or reaccreditation in June 2018.

Eight facilities associated with Nashville, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners facilities achieved reaccreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

Tallahassee, Fla.-based Red Hills Surgical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

Joint Commission Resources released the third edition of Environment of Care Risk Assessment to help healthcare organizations develop, implement and maintain comprehensive EC risk-assessment programs. 

Newport Beach, Calif.-based Newport Bay Surgery Center is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.

The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities and Samuel Lin, MD, published a retrospective analysis of data on deaths associated with outpatient plastic surgery procedures.