AAAASF Creates New For-Profit Subsidiary to Assist Office-Based Surgical Facilities

GURNEE, Ill. -- As part of its long-term commitment to upgrading the level of patient care at office-based surgical facilities, the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF) has created a for-profit subsidiary, Surgery Facilities Resources, Inc. (SFR).

"AAAASF has been aware for some time that facilities were identifying services from us that would be inappropriate for a regulatory body to provide," said James Yates, MD, president of AAAASF. Yates noted that with the formation of SFR as an organization not directly overseen by the AAAASF board, there would be no potential conflicts of interest.

The incorporating board of directors of SFR include: Michael McGuire, MD, chairman; Ronald Iverson, MD, treasurer; Robert Singer, MD, secretary; and Jeff Pearcy, executive vice president.

"We want to identify services that will assist surgeons in setting up an office-based surgery practice and services that will increase the efficiency of existing facilities," stated McGuire. McGuire has already set the groundwork for relationships with suppliers that can meet the needs of facilities and is currently encouraging facilities to contact SFR with recommendations for services that are not being met.

Pearcy is assisting McGuire in this effort and reports that SFR is currently representing a Web-based product (SurgiMetrix.org) that will assist facilities in staying in compliance with a variety of regulatory bodies. Group purchasing arrangements and international accreditation also are being explored, as well as a system for identifying qualified consultants to assist new facilities in the design, construction and accreditation of their offices.

Source: American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc.