HHS Survey to Assess Patient Safety Culture at Ambulatory Surgery Centers

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has received approval to launch an Ambulatory Surgery Center Survey on Patient Culture Database. This decision comes as the number of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) continues to grow across the country. The HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) developed the survey tool in response to an expressed interest on the part of ASCs in the collection and analysis of information from their institutions.

AHRQ’s assessment tool was designed specifically for ASCs. Unlike other databases that collect information on patient outcomes, satisfaction or safety, this survey will instead measure staff perceptions of the facility’s culture of safety.

In an interview with Healthcare Dive, ASC Association CEO William Prentice stated his group supports this program. “As part of their commitment to patient safety and high-quality care, hundreds of ASCs participated in the AHRQ Culture of Safety Project that produced these surveys and many other tools health providers, including many ASCs, continue to use today. We support AHRQ’s efforts to continue to make these tools available on a voluntary basis to providers who find them useful.”

MLMIC encourages our insured ASC facilities and providers to consider the use of the AHRQ’s survey tool as a way to continue to assess and improve the quality of care they provide in the ambulatory surgical setting.

Modern Healthcare provides additional information about this initiative here.