Public Info

The entire aim of the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities is to protect the public from potential problems that could arise because surgical procedures were done in a place improperly equipped for a given procedure.

Surgery today requires sophisticated instruments and monitoring devices. In a CAAASF accredited facility, procedures are performed in a modern operating suite with equipment necessary to ensure the safest possible operating conditions. Proper space for the safe evacuation of patients in the event of fire must be assured. Emergency electrical power must be available in case of power failure to allow surgery to continue safely. A CAAASF accredited facility meets and may exceed, the same standards of safety and patient care as those required in a hospital outpatient unit. An accredited facility provides you with a safe environment specifically designed to accommodate your surgical needs.

All surgery performed in a CAAASF facility must be done by a fully qualified surgeon who is certified by the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. He or she must be eligible to perform the same surgical procedures in an accredited hospital. This protects the public from surgeons who perform procedures for which they are not qualified.

The assisting personnel must be appropriately certified for their role in an accredited facility, just as they would in a government hospital. In those facilities offering procedures done under a general anaesthetic, a certified anesthesiologist must give the anesthesia.

To maintain accreditation, member facilities must provide evidence that the standards set by the CAAASF are adhered to in the day-to-day workings of the surgical unit. This is accomplished by written reports and facility inspections.