Certification for office-based plastic surgery.

Office-based and freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities have become commonplace and the surgeries they perform more elaborate. Accreditation of all outpatient surgical facilities is necessary to maintain a standard of care that safeguards the patient and reduces liability for the physician. The accreditation entities that currently dominate the industry include JCAHO (Joint Commission for Accreditation of Hospital Organizations), the American Osteopathic Association's HFAP (Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program), and AAAASF (American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities). All of these accrediting bodies provide standards of operation that maintain a level of care and improve patient safety. We will examine the impact of certification in the safe operation of outpatient surgical facilities.