Maryland health officials may ask state lawmakers for permission to oversee plastic surgery centers, a move inspired partly by the death of a woman after a liposuction procedure on Monday, according to a Baltimore Sun report.
The state health department had been considering whether to request a change to the legal definition of free-standing ambulatory surgery centers. Surgery centers currently only undergo state inspection if they meet certain criteria in their billing practices.
The discussion was prompted by an infection outbreak at Monarch Medspa in Timonium, Md., where three liposuction patients came down with aggressive infections, prompting health officials to close the facility.
Health officials began considering updates to surgery center regulations this spring, during a review of abortion clinic oversight. While state law specifically permits health officials to regulate abortion clinics, the law is not as clear when it comes to other types of surgery centers.
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The state health department had been considering whether to request a change to the legal definition of free-standing ambulatory surgery centers. Surgery centers currently only undergo state inspection if they meet certain criteria in their billing practices.
The discussion was prompted by an infection outbreak at Monarch Medspa in Timonium, Md., where three liposuction patients came down with aggressive infections, prompting health officials to close the facility.
Health officials began considering updates to surgery center regulations this spring, during a review of abortion clinic oversight. While state law specifically permits health officials to regulate abortion clinics, the law is not as clear when it comes to other types of surgery centers.
Related Articles on ASC Quality:
NHSN Announces New Reporting Capabilities
New Tools Help Nursing Homes Track Infections
Patient Safety Tool: Endoscope Reprocessing Tools
