Hospital outpatient surgery departments have better patient safety practices than ambulatory surgery centers, but both have problems regarding clinician certification and training, according to The Leapfrog Group report released Oct. 22.
Leapfrog summarized preliminary findings from two surveys in which 321 ASCs and 1,141 HOPDs submitted 2019 data regarding quality and safety before Aug. 31, 2019.
Findings reveal that more than a third of both ASCs and HOPDs have staff performing procedures without board certification. For individuals administering anesthesia, only 71 percent of ASCs and 83 percent of HOPDs reported all staff board-certified.
Almost all facilities had a clinician certified for adult life support present, but only 89 percent of ASCs and 96 percent of HOPDs with pediatric patients always had a clinician certified in pediatric life support present.
Only 18 percent of ASCs have an antimicrobial stewardship program in place, with ASCs' patient safety practices falling behind HOPDs. While HOPDs data is currently unavailable, 93 percent of all hospitals have antimicrobial stewardship programs, the report says. ASCs are also less likely to monitor hand hygiene compliance than HOPDs.