McKesson outlined new steps that The American College of Surgeons recommended ASCs take to improve the quality and safety of surgical procedures.
The strategies they shared include:
1. Applying physician-led, patient-centered care models: A team-based approach where resources are coordinated in all steps of care improves the quality and safety of an episode of care.
2. Appointing a surgical quality officer: A surgical quality officer can lead efforts to maintain and build clinical protocols, practice standards and internal systems that ensure quality patient care.
3. Reforming peer and surgical case review into quality improvement forums: ASCs can review surgeon performance and case data to create opportunities to improve surgical care.
4. Creating an internal surgical safety and quality committee: The creation of a new committee dedicated to surgical safety and quality improvement with an infrastructure that allows it to be sustained over time is a long term way to improve surgical quality and safety.
5. Establish a culture around surgical reliability, safety and quality: Changing an ASC's culture is an effective and proactive way to improve ASC operations and procedures.
6. Utilize data to assess improvements: Collecting and using data allows ASCs to achieve surgical safety and quality improvements through benchmarking performance and evaluating outcomes.