Experience with your exact procedure
Ask how often the surgeon and center perform it, which outcomes they track, and how their results compare with appropriate benchmarks.
Before scheduling outpatient surgery
10 ambulatory surgery center safety signals to examine
A center’s public data are one part of the decision. Confirm that the setting fits your health needs, your surgeon regularly performs the exact procedure there, and a clear plan exists for complications.
Appropriate patient selection
Ask which health conditions, anesthesia risks, procedure complexity, or recovery needs would make a hospital outpatient department safer.
No reported serious preventable events
Review CMS measures for burns, falls, and wrong-patient, wrong-site, wrong-side, wrong-procedure, or wrong-implant events.
Low transfers and unplanned hospital visits
Review available procedure-related hospital-visit measures and the center’s transfer or admission rate. Ask what caused recent transfers.
Qualified anesthesia and recovery care
Confirm who provides anesthesia, how patients are monitored, discharge criteria, and who responds if recovery takes longer than expected.
Reliable verification and surgical time-out
Ask how the team confirms identity, procedure, site, side, implants, consent, allergies, medications, and antibiotics before starting.
Strong infection prevention
Ask about hand hygiene, instrument sterilization, medication-injection practices, environmental cleaning, infection tracking, and follow-up.
Clear discharge and emergency instructions
You should receive understandable written instructions, warning signs, after-hours contact information, medication guidance, and a follow-up plan.
Patients report good communication and care
Review available OAS CAHPS results for staff, communication, overall facility rating, and willingness to recommend, including dates and response rates.
Transparent coverage, ownership, and transfer plans
Confirm all clinicians and services are in network, identify separate bills and financial interests, and ask which hospital receives emergency transfers.