CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS
SURGICARE CENTER
What is Lakes SurgiCare Center?
Our SurgiCare center is a first class operating room within the confines of our office at Lakes Foot & Ankle Associates. It allows us to perform many foot and ankle surgeries right here in the office with either intravenous sedation or local anesthesia only.
How does it benefit me as a patient?
It provides our patients a wonderful opportunity to have foot and ankle surgery in an environment that is much less intimidating than the hospital. Additionally, your family is immediately present before surgery and after the surgery. It also allows patients to save a lot of time and paperwork compared to the hospital setting. And lastly, your care is provided by our friendly staff who you already know!
Is it safe?
Absolutely! By attaining accreditation by The Joint Commission, it shows our patients that we ascribe to the highest level of safety standards set forth for office based surgery. All of our staff is trained to handle any emergencies and we have the proper equipment on premises to do so. Additionally, chances of infection are much less due to the fact we only do foot and ankle surgery in our O.R. When you go to the hospital, you will likely never know what type of procedure was performed in the O.R. before yours and if a proper cleaning job was performed.
Why is it different from other doctors who do surgery in their office?
The difference is our accreditation! We are proud to be the only podiatric office in southeast Michigan that has an accredited operating room in its office. We were the second practice accredited in the State of Michigan. Being accredited assures our patients that we have highest level of safety available along with defined policies and procedures that equate to that of a hospital. No other podiatric office can offer this complete level of care unless they are accredited.
Are there any limitations to what can be done in the SurgiCare center?
Yes, there are limitations. Patients with significant health issues such as cardiac disease, complicated diabetes, severe high blood pressure, and history of blood clots are more safely treated in the hospital setting. Also, procedures that require general anesthesia have to be performed in the hospital setting. The SurgiCare center based surgeries are meant for healthy patients with minimal to no risk factors. We can even perform surgery on children over the age of seven.
About JCAHO
Lakes Foot & Ankle Associates/SurgiCare Center has received the Gold Seal of Approval™ from The Joint Commission.
What does that mean to you?
What is the Joint Commission Seal of Approval™?
The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval™ is an internationally recognized symbol of quality that indicates this organization is committed to the highest level of patient safety and care. This outpatient facility has met the highest and most rigorous performance standards to obtain this distinction.
The Joint Commission accredits nearly 15,000 organizations worldwide and focuses on continually improving healthcare by setting the highest standards for healthcare quality throughout the world. Leading healthcare organizations voluntarily undergo a Joint Commission evaluation in order to improve patient care.
In setting the standards, The Joint Commission assembles groups of doctors, nurses, and representatives of national healthcare organizations to review the current standards for care, and make recommendations for additions and improvements to the requirements.
The Joint Commission’s mission is to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of healthcare accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in healthcare organizations.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation means that this facility has volunteered to undergo a challenging, comprehensive evaluation. It has made a significant extra effort to review and improve the key factors that can affect the quality and safety of your care.
Accreditation by The Joint Commission is considered the gold standard in healthcare. This facility is accredited just as the hospitals in your community are accredited. Specially trained healthcare professionals who are experts in the field personally visited this facility to conduct a review that monitors how well the staff:
- provides a safe environment for your care
- educates you about the risks and options for your diagnosis and treatment
- protects your rights as a patient, including your privacy rights
- evaluates your condidion, before, during and after diagnosis and treatment
- protects you agains infection
The fact that this facility has gone through this evaluation shows an extraordinary commitment to provide safe, high quality care and a willingness to be measured against the highest standards of performance.
How does an organization become accredited?
Joint Commission accreditation is voluntary. To prepare for a review, a facility like this one made a commitment to improvement, and put teams together to carefully study what could be done better to ensure patient safety and quality of care. Next, the Joint Commission surveyors were invited to the facility for an intense on-site review. Then this facility received a report identifying its strengths, and outlining what it could improve.
Only a small percentage of outpatient settings have gone through this kind of evaluation.
Congratulations on choosing an accredited facility. Whenever and wherever you receive healthcare, look for the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval.™
For more information on accreditation of healthcare organizations, visit www.jointcommission.org. To find other accredited healthcare organizations who have received the Gold Seal of Approval™, look for Quality Check™ or visit www.qualitycheck.org.