According to new data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgery, minimally invasive procedures continue to grow. Eight and a half million such procedures were performed in 2005. The two top minimally invasive procedures are botox (3.8 million) and chemical peel (1 million). Since 2000, the number of Botox injections has increased by 388%.
A New York State law signed by Governor Spitzer in mid July requires new important patient safety standards for doctors who perform surgery in their offices. According to the new law, doctors who perform operations and procedures requiring anesthesia or sedation in their offices, must have their offices accredited by a “nationally recognized accrediting agency.” This will hold office based surgery to the same standards as hospital based surgery.
Our office surgical suite has always been accredited at the highest level by the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities. We did this on a voluntary basis but now it is the law.
Accreditation means that standards have to be met about construction, equipment, personnel, and training and the facility is regularly inspected.
The number of operations done in doctors offices has more than doubled in the last few years and until now surgery performed in doctor’s offices was not regulated at all in New York State. Anyone with an MD degree could perform surgery in practically any setting. So this new law is a very important safety measure.
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