For patients
Patient Safety
Elective surgery earns its safety through systems: accredited facilities, qualified anesthesia, honest patient selection.
The facility matters as much as the surgeon
Office-based surgery is safe when the facility meets the same standards a hospital would apply: accreditation, emergency equipment and drills, transfer agreements, and staff certified in resuscitation.
Ask for the facility's accreditation by name — AAAHC, AAAASF, or The Joint Commission — and confirm it with the accreditor.
Warning signs
- Pressure to book surgery at the first visit, or time-limited discounts.
- Vague answers about who administers anesthesia.
- No discussion of risks, or dismissal of your medical history.
- Before-and-after photos that cannot be attributed to the operating surgeon.
- A credential that cannot be verified at the issuing board's own website.
Report concerns
Concerns about an ABFCS diplomate's conduct may be reported to the Board and are reviewed under the Code of Ethics. Concerns about any physician's license belong with your state medical board.