Office Policies

Advance Directives Policy
May 17, 2010

The ASC generally provides its surgical services with the patient under general anesthesia.  In keeping with this practice, patients under general anesthesia will be resuscitated in the event of an emergency situation while in this facility.  The patient would be transferred to the hospital per the contracted ambulance transfer policy with all pertinent patient records, including the advance directives if the patient has submitted them.

It should also be noted that patients receiving surgical services in this facility have been deemed candidates for outpatient general anesthesia based upon their prior health history.  Patients with complex medical histories and/or multiple etiologies typically receive their surgical services from the surgeon in the hospital based facility.  Any advance directive information available in our files regarding these patients, will be made available to the hospital.  The hospital will follow their policies regarding this patient information.

NMOFS will honor the advance directives of the patients to whom we provide surgical services.  During the examination process, Dr. Ford will determine if the patient is a candidate for outpatient surgery.  Discussions regarding advance care directives will be done at this time.  If the situation presents where the advance directives provide for DNR status, we will refer the patient to the hospital setting for outpatient services by Dr. Ford who has privileges at TAMC.