Non-hospital surgical facility accreditation

Non-hospital surgical facility (NHSF) accreditation is the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta’s approval of a clinic that does certain procedures outside a hospital. A buyer of such a clinic meets it as a status the facility holds, and CPSA says a change of facility owners must be reported on its change form. See the healthcare practice buyer checklist.

What CPSA says

CPSA says that if you want to open an NHSF, you need an assessment and CPSA accreditation before opening. It says it reassesses on a 4-year cycle, and also if a facility adds a service, renovates, moves, or a concern is raised. Its standard of practice says that outside hospitals a regulated member must be approved by CPSA to perform or supervise a procedure restricted to CPSA-accredited facilities, and that the list of restricted procedures is kept in CPSA bylaws.

What to check or ask

• Whether the facility is accredited and for which services.
• Whether CPSA’s Change to an Accredited Facility form has been or will be filed for the change of owners.
• Who the medical director is, since CPSA says medical directors decide credentialing and privileging within accredited facilities.