Michon Villanueva is assistant director, accreditation services, for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
Q: We are currently in the process of credentialing our new ambulatory surgery center. My providers are questioning whether or not, on days that anesthesia is not being used, they could have a third provider in the PACU area treating patients, essentially using that area as office space when the ASC is not in use. In reviewing the Physical Environment Checklist from AAAHC, item 1.5 states, "The recovery area is never used for any other purpose at any time, regardless of ASC operational hours."
I am interpreting this to mean the PACU cannot be used as office space. Am I correct?
Michon Villanueva: Your interpretation is accurate.
The recovery area may not be used for non-clinical functions, even outside ASC business hours. It can be used for pre-op and post-op, consistent with accepted standards of practice.
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