Facility Layout and Physical Environment
Each operating room must be designed and equipped so that the types of surgery conducted can be performed in a manner that protects the lives and assures the physical safety of all individuals in the area. You must verify the ASC meets applicable design standards, has the right equipment and has enough equipment for the volume of procedures it typically performs. Most importantly you must verify that the ASC has evidence, such as logs on the equipment, electrical or mechanical equipment indicating the proper testing requirements.
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Restroom Door
In the event of an emergency you should be able to get inside the restroom. If a patient falls in front of the door you should be able to get inside the restroom to rescue the patient.
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Privacy Curtains
Privacy Curtains must display the fire retardant tag. If you do not have one notify the company who installed the curtains and they will provide you with a certificate if the curtains are fire retardant.
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Narcotics Lock Box
Narcotics or Controlled Substances must be locked in the narcotics lock box.
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Receptacles in Operating Room
Make sure you have house power receptacles and emergency power receptacles in the Operating Room. The receptacles must be tested on an annual basis by a qualified individual.
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Preventative Maintenance
Your equipment must be inspected by a biomedical engineer / preventative maintenance. Make sure you have a written agreement (contract) and record the frequency of visits. Make sure you obtain a complete equipment list from the vendor and service report on each piece of equipment.
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Operating Room Flooring
You want to inspect the operating room flooring at periodic intervals for wear and tear. You can be cited if the flooring shows signs of deterioration, cracks and tears in the flooring.
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Nurse Call System Code Blue Button
Nurse call system is an immediate alert response device. It provides an audible noise to the exact location of the patient.
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Multidose Vial Storage Area
A multidose vial of medication must be opened in a non patient care area. You are required to document the day or opening or expiration (this will be 28 days from the opening date, or manufacturer's expiration date, whichever is sooner). Draw up the medication from the multidose vial to include...
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Medical Gas Area Zone Valves
A zone valve is located immediately outside each critical care area and location where anesthesia is administered as moderate sedation or greater, in each medical gas or vacuum line located and ready access in an emergency. Make sure you label zone valves according to the room / space they serve.
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Refrigerator Medications
Form an instructions for use (IFU) library for the medications inside your refrigerator. Make sure you know the storage requirements and the temperature parameters. Have a discussion with your inspector regarding what is inside the refrigerator.
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Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and Chemical List
You want to ensure that you have SDS sheets for every chemical and hazard item in the ASC. Also you must form a list of all chemicals inside the ASC. This list must be approved by the Governing Board.
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Sterilization Area Clean Room
You want to ensure that your clean (sterilization) room is completely separated from the dirty (soiled) processing room.
