Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 3 - Licensing and Certification
Chapter 45 - Ambulatory Surgical Center
Subchapter C - Admissions, Transfers and Discharges
Section I-4539 - Admissions and Assessments

A. Each ASC shall have written admission and assessment policies and criteria.

B. An individual or entity that enters into a use agreement with a licensed ASC shall be required to adhere to all of the provisions of this Section.

C. An ASC shall ensure that each patient has the appropriate pre-surgical and post-surgical assessments completed, inclusive of suitability for less than 23-hour timeframe of patient stay, ability of the ASC to provide services needed in the post-operative period in accordance with prescribed plan of care, and discharge plans to home or another licensed facility setting.

D. Within 30 days prior to the date of the scheduled surgery, each patient shall have a comprehensive medical history and physical assessment completed by a physician or other qualified licensed professional practitioner in accordance with applicable state health and safety laws, ASC policies, and standards of practice.

E. The history and physical assessment prior to surgery shall specify that the patient is medically cleared for surgery in an ambulatory setting and is required on all patients regardless of whether the patient is referred for surgery on the same day that the referral is made and the referring physician has indicated that it is medically necessary for the patient to have the surgery on the same day.

F. Upon admission, each patient shall have a pre-surgical assessment completed by a physician or other qualified licensed health practitioner. The pre-surgical assessment shall include, at a minimum:

G. The patients medical history and physical assessment shall be placed in the patients medical record prior to the surgical procedure.

H. The patients post-surgical condition shall be assessed and documented in the medical record by a physician, other licensed medical practitioner, or a registered nurse (RN) with, at a minimum, the required post-operative care experience in accordance with applicable state health and safety laws, ASC policies and standards of practice.