NAMES IN THE NEWS

AAAHC Releases Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Toolkit

OCTOBER 2023

The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) of Deerfield, Illinois, released its newly enhanced Ambulatory Surgery Considerations for Obesity and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Toolkit. The much-anticipated toolkit emphasizes that healthcare providers must be equipped with updated knowledge on how to effectively identify and ensure the safety of patients with obesity and/or obstructive sleep apnea throughout the surgical process, according to a release.

“As obesity continues to rise, healthcare providers must prioritize the safety and well-being of patients with these preexisting conditions,” said Julie Lynch, director of the Institute for Quality Improvement at AAAHC, in the release. “Applying established guidelines for treating individuals with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea not only ensures their physical safety during procedures, but also underscores our commitment to helping deliver patient-centered care. By incorporating specialized protocols into their practices, healthcare facilities demonstrate their dedication to addressing the unique needs of patients, fostering excellence in ambulatory care.”

Highlights of the updated toolkit include guidance for pre-procedure, intra-procedure and post-procedure considerations, comorbidities and updated considerations for obese patients who previously contracted COVID-19. The comprehensive flowchart in the toolkit serves as a pre-procedure assessment resource for healthcare providers, weighing factors such as a patient's body mass index (BMI), sedation levels and the presence of any preexisting conditions that might pose surgery-related challenges, the release states.

“The medical community understands the risk factors of obesity,” said Noel Adachi, president and chief executive officer, in the release. “In this toolkit, we are addressing these specific challenges with the goal of better equipping providers with the knowledge to deliver exceptional care and to continue to demonstrate the '1095 Strong, quality every day' philosophy that serves as a foundation for AAAHC and our accredited organizations.”

Additional information on AAAHC's programs, products, process, client education, history, governance and surveyors can be found at AAAHC.org. To order and learn more about the various AAAHC toolkits, visit AAAHC Toolkits webpage.