By: Dr. Leonik Ahumada, representing the group of (Dr. Asokan, Dr. Rogers, and Dr.Nijher)

Thirty years ago virtually all surgery was performed in hospitals with lengthy in hospital stays. Today many procedures can be performed safely and efficiently in an outpatient setting. Outpatient services are provided by ambulatory surgical centers. These centers were first opened in the 1970's and since that time have developed into high quality, costeffective alternatives to inpatient hospital care. These centers can be within a hospital (performing inpatient and outpatient procedures) or free standing facilities that concentrate on outpatient procedures only.

Ambulatory surgery centers can be multi-specialty centers that perform procedures ranging from cataract surgery to colonoscopies in the same building or they can be highly specialized centers such as cardiac catheterization centers or outpatient plastic surgical facilities. Although there are several settings where surgery can be performed such as hospitals, office-based, clinic or minor procedure rooms, the ambulatory surgical center is highly regulated by federal and state entities. Physician offices in contrast generally are not required to meet similar standards.

The safety and quality of care offered at ambulatory surgical facilities is regulated by state licensure, Medicare certification and voluntary accreditation. This consists of rigorous initial and ongoing inspections and reporting by these centers. Ambulatory surgery centers that serve Medicare beneficiaries must be certified by the Medicare program and must comply with federal government standards for the purpose of ensuring the quality of the facility, infection control and patient safety. Part of these guidelines includes staff registered nurses for patient care, strict protocols for patient recovery and discharge, emergency planning, and written guidelines for transferring patients to hospitals if needed.

At the Aesthetic Center for Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery we offer the safety and comfort of an on-site ambulatory surgical center for our patients. Our center is certified by Medicare which translates to certification that meets federal and state standards for safety, infection control and outcomes evaluation. We perform outpatient cosmetic and insurance covered plastic surgery procedures. Our entire center specializes in plastic surgery. From our staff of Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, anesthesia staff, registered nurses and certified surgical technicians the entire center is dedicated to providing high quality, safety and comfort to the plastic surgical patient.