Quality Reporting & Patient Safety

ASCs should always strive for the highest levels of care quality and patient safety, regardless of specific requirements stemming from Medicare’s Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program. The resources on this page can assist facilities in maintaining high-quality standards.

Quality Reporting Specifications Manual

On this page find current and past year manuals, posted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which provide measure specifications, associated Quality Data Codes (QDCs) with definitions, descriptive examples, references for required claims based on ASCQR Program quality measures and guidance for data submissions.

OAS CAHPS Survey

The Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (OAS CAHPS) Survey is a patient questionnaire that measures the experience of care on topics such as communication, preparation and postsurgical coordination. OAS CAHPS will become a mandatory component of the ASCQR Program in 2025.

Safe Surgery Checklist

A safe surgery checklist is an essential tool that gives the surgical team important checkpoints to monitor during the care process to ensure maximum patient safety.

ASC Quality Collaboration

The ASC Quality Collaboration is an organization dedicated to advancing high-quality, patient-centered care in ASCs.

Safe Injection Practices Coalition

The Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) is a partnership of healthcare-related organizations, patient advocacy organizations, industry partners and other public health partners led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

AHRQ Safety Program of Ambulatory Surgery

This four-year long collaborative project focused on reducing HAIs and other surgical complications in ASCs.