Our State-of-the-Art Surgical Facility

With our primary emphasis on patient safety and secondary emphasis on patient comfort, all of our surgical procedures which require either intravenous (IV) sedation, "twilight anesthesia," or general anesthesia are performed in conjunction with either a Board-Certified anesthesiologist or a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

As you enter in our ASC in preparation for your procedure, you will be greeted by one of our Registered Nurses (RN) who will assist you in getting ready in our Pre-Operative Suite. Following your procedure, our RN will make sure that all of your immediate post-operative needs are met in our comfortable and serene Recovery Suite.

The Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center, Inc., is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, also known as AAAHC. Since 1979, the AAAHC has been the preeminent leader in developing standards to advance and promote patient safety, quality and value for ambulatory health care through peer-based accreditation processes, education and research. Accreditation is ultimately awarded to organizations that are found to be in compliance with AAAHC standards.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a voluntary process through which an ambulatory health care organization is able to measure the quality of its services and performance against nationally recognized standards. The accreditation process involves self-assessment by the organization, as well as a thorough review by AAAHC's expert surveyors, who are themselves, ambulatory health care professionals.

The AAAHC Certificate of Accreditation is a symbol to others that an organization has committed to providing high-quality care and has demonstrated its commitment by measuring up to the AAAHC's high standards. The real value of accreditation, however, lies in the consultative and educational process that precedes the awarding of the certificate. It is this self-analysis, peer review, and consultation that ultimately help an organization improve its care and services. If you live in the Phoenix area and have considered cosmetic surgery, you can trust that we will provide you with the highest standard of care and will make every decision with your best interests in mind.

What Does Accreditation Mean for My Care?

Getting ready to undergo a surgical procedure is a serious undertaking. Patients should be prepared to ask their physicians questions not only about their personal credentials and training, but also about their practice and abilities to perform the procedure they are considering.

Looking for a seal of accreditation can help you make some of these informed choices. Accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) means that the surgical center organization has undergone a regular and thorough review of its policies and practices.

Below are some examples of what AAAHC looks for when surveying an organization/surgery center:

Patient Rights

• Are patients treated with respect, consideration and dignity?
• Are patients provided with complete information concerning their diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and prognosis and given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving their health care?
• Are patients given information regarding their rights and responsibilities, services available to them at the organization, provisions for after-hours and emergency care, fees, payment policies and credentialing of health care professionals.

Governance

• Is there a process for identifying, analyzing, reporting and preparing an action plan for adverse incidents?
• Does the organization have an appropriate procedure for validating the qualifications of individuals who provide health care services?
• Does the organization have an appropriate procedure for determining what types of procedures a health care professional may provide?

Administration

• Does the organizations maintain an appropriate and secure health information system?
• Are there appropriate personnel policies?
• Does the organization do periodic patient satisfaction surveys?

Quality of Care Provided

• Are patients contacted in a timely manner regarding significant problems and/or abnormal lab findings?
• Are there mechanisms in place to ensure the transfer of patients when appropriate?

Quality Management and Improvement

• Does the organization have procedures in place for reviewing their quality of care?
• Does the organization have an appropriate quality improvement program?
• Does the organization have a risk management program designed to protect the life and welfare of its patients and employees?

Clinical Records and Health Information

• Does the organization have an organized system for collecting, processing, maintaining and storing patient records?
• Are the presence or absence of allergies and untoward reactions towards drugs and other materials recorded in a uniform location in patient charts?
• Are patient records transferred to the new health care professional when a patient is transferred?

Professional Improvement

• Does the organization encourage employee participation in seminars, workshops and other educational activities that are relevant to its missions and objectives?
• Does the organization continuously monitor the maintenance of licensure and/or certification of professional personnel?

Facilities and Environment

• Does the organization comply with all state and local building codes and regulations?
• Does the organization have the necessary personnel, equipment, and procedures to handle medical and other emergencies that may arise?
• Is the space allotted for a particular function or service adequate for the functions performed therein?

Anesthesia Services

• Are the anesthesia services provided by the organization adequately supervised by one or more physician or dentist qualified by the governing body?
• Does the organization receive the informed consent of the patient for the nature of the anesthesia planned?
• Does the organization administered have the appropriate resuscitative equipment for patients receiving anesthesia?

Surgical and Related Services

• Are the surgical procedures performed in the facility limited to those procedures approved by the governing body?
• Are surgical procedures performed by health care professionals that are licensed to perform such procedures and have been granted privileges by the governing body?
• Does the organization have a safe environment for treating surgical patients, including adequate safeguards to protect from cross-infection?

In summary, the AAAHC Certificate of Accreditation awarded to the Arizona Eye Institute & Cosmetic Laser Center, Inc., demonstrates our organization's commitment to providing high quality health care. And third party payers, insurance companies, government agencies and the public recognize it as a symbol of quality. We are honored to serve the Phoenix community from our Sun City West ambulatory surgical center, and can help if you are interested in cosmetic surgery.