6 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 1 9
Ashton Center for Day Surgery in Hoffman Estates, Ill., knew it
had to conduct 3 pre-operative assessments:
• a general history and physical (H&P) assessment (within 30
days of surgery);
• an anesthesia assessment (conducted day of surgery); and
• an evaluation of the procedure being performed (also con-
ducted on the day of surgery).
Under all the guidelines the facility followed, it simply said a
competent professional needed to do the 3 assessments, not 3
different people. This was an important distinction.
"Our podiatrists weren't comfortable performing an entire
H&P so, in these situations, we'd have our anesthesiologists
conduct both the H&P and the anesthesia assessment," says
Alfonso del Granado, the compliance officer at Ashton Center
for Day Surgery. But a surveyor tried to tell Mr. del Granado
this wasn't allowed.
Rather than change the surgical center's protocols, Mr. del
Granado challenged the surveyor's assessment. He presented
notes showing the center had given real consideration to how it
conducted the assessments and that they weren't doing it out of
ignorance or lack of interest in patient care. On the contrary,
anesthesiologists were conducting the 2 assessments to provide
the best in patient care. "I said, 'Show where it says I can't do
it,'" says Mr. del Granado. "And to his credit, the surveyor lis-
tened to my point, and we were able to continue doing it our
way."
— Jared Bilski
When You're in the Right, Call Out the Surveyor
STAND YOUR GROUND
