DOING BUSINESS


Hosting Students in Your ASC A contract between an ASC and an educational institution can protect both parties when students come into a surgery center. BY SAHELY MUKERJI


S


igning a contract with a teaching in- stitution that is sending student em-


ployees or observers into an ASC can be a good idea, especially when it’s done before the students arrive. “I would expect to see an agree-


ment that defines the relationship, li- ability and expectations,” says Alsie Fitzgerald, RN, CASC, founder of Alsie Fitzgerald Consulting in Ur- bandale, Iowa. “The school may be required to provide proof of licensure, liability insurance, etc., for each of the students. There would also need to be a policy and procedure for the facility that defines what the students can do in your facility. Whatever the process, it needs to be approved by the govern- ing body of the surgery center.” A good agreement should spell out the responsibility of the school


and the ASC clearly, adds Deborah Jinks, director of quality standards at HCA in Nashville, Tennessee. “The contract should specify who would be responsible for maintaining the health


“It’s a structured system and you


don’t want to go into it blindly,” Fitzger- ald suggests.


After deciding to have a student


work in your ASC, the next step is training, says Jinks. “Most ASCs run lean. You have to take into account that there is going to be some time away from patient care for your staff to mentor and train the students in fa- cility processes, including fire drills,


Most ASCs run lean. You have to take into account that there is going to be some time away from patient care for your staff to mentor and train the students in facility processes....”


—Deborah Jinks, HCA


records of the student, delineate the scope of practice of the student and identify the person who would su- pervise and/or monitor the student. It would also specify a faculty represen- tative or contact person.”


emergency procedures and disaster planning. Faculty members who ac- company the trained as well.”


students have to be


If the students are allied health pro- fessionals, such as nursing students or


Are You Ready to Host Students?


Alsie Fitzgerald, RN, CASC, founder of Alsie Fitzgerald Consulting in Ur- bandale, Iowa, suggests consider- ing the following questions before inviting students into your ASC:


■ ■ ■


Would your liability carrier allow for students in your ASC?


Would the students be compensated?


Would the students come back and work for you or is the work considered community service?


■


Who would supervise them while they are in your facility?


24 ASC FOCUS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012


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