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A C C R E D I T A T I O N
Daniel Cook
Executive Editor
FRIENDLY ADVICE Many surveyors create a collegial atmosphere and don't hesitate to give credit for things done right.
inety-six percent of
the readers we surMost readers we
veyed find accredisurveyed tout its
tation valuable, but
benefits, with a
some complain that
few caveats.
the process is too expensive and
filled with too much red tape.
"Some surgeons or administrators might think there are too many
rules to follow and they shouldn't pay to have people tell them what
to do," says Tina Mentz, executive director of the Elmhurst (Ill.)
Outpatient Surgery Center. "But really, in the end, it's about ensuring
you're following best practices. It's the right thing to do."
Ms. Mentz's facility has been accredited since opening in 1999 in
order to receive Medicare reimbursements and payments from some
private payors. "We first sought accreditation because we had to, and
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | D E C E M B E R 2013
