The governing board of an ASC has the opportunity to play a role in ensuring the center is compliant with quality measures from Medicare, accreditation and other bodies, according to Alpharetta, Ga-based Surgical Information Systems.
Five ways a governing body can improve ASC infection control:
1. A responsibility of the governing board is to appoint the ASC's infection preventionist. A good candidate for the position is someone who has infection control and prevention experience.
2. The infection preventionist is a position that is appointed annually, with the board reappointing the person who served in the previous year or choosing someone else.
3. The board can support the infection preventionist's role by giving them time to pursue ongoing infection control training through webinars, conferences and earning additional credentials.
4. Reviewing the initial infection prevention plan through analyzing the ASC's risk assessment plan is one of the key ways a governing board can be involved in an ASC's infection control efforts.
5. The board also has a responsibility to review all infections that occur at the center and involve the infection preventionist in identifying the root cause.
