Electrodiagnostic Laboratory Accreditation Program

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Electrodiagnostic Laboratory Accreditation
Program
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Presentation Outline

• Quality concerns
• Development of Accreditation
• Review the mission and purpose
• Describe the Accreditation Process
• FAQs

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Concerns about Quality

• Lawsuits brought by private and public payors to
  recover millions in fraudulent EDX studies.
• Significant increase in the number of nerve
  conduction studies performed by
• independent testing facilities and
• unqualified providers.
• Decline in the number of ABEM applicants in
  previous years, with an increase in 2008.

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Mission Statement

• To identify, develop, and promote standards
  for quality electrodiagnostic laboratories to
  assure patients receive appropriate quality
  medical care in a safe environment through a
  voluntary self-regulated system and a peer-review
  process.

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Purpose of Electrodiagnostic Laboratory
Accreditation

• To ensure the quality and integrity of accredited
  laboratories by
• Establishing criteria for evaluating
  electrodiagnostic laboratories,
• Assessing whether electrodiagnostic laboratories
  meet and maintain standards set by the AANEM,
• Promoting self-assessment and enhancement of the
  quality of EDX studies produced by
  electrodiagnostic laboratories, and
• Recognizing electrodiagnostic laboratories that
  achieve the level of quality established by the
  AANEM.

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What is the Process for Becoming Accredited?
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What is the Process for Becoming Accredited?
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Go to the website to

• Request an application
• Applications are customized based on the staff
  composition of the laboratory
• Laboratory id very important
• Review the Frequently Asked Question
• Find Application Resources
• Sample Procedure Manual
• A Diagram of the Process
• Download a check list to use when preparing to
  become accredited

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Frequently Asked Questions
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Why should a laboratory become accredited?

• The accreditation program will allow physicians
  who specialize in electrodiagnostic medicine to
  demonstrate clinical excellence and a commitment
  to the highest quality of patient care.
• Accreditation will provide patients, referral
  sources, and payors with a credible measure to
  differentiate the quality of care provided.
• Laboratories granted accreditation will be
  presented a Certificate of Accreditation.
• The fact that your laboratory is accredited
  should be communicated to payors and proudly
  displayed in your office for patients to see.

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What will the Accreditation Program evaluate?

• All facets of the laboratory including
• the qualifications of all clinical staff,
• the physical facilities,
• electrodiagnostic equipment,
• protocols for performing electrodiagnostic
  studies,
• continuing education,
• evaluation of patient reports, and
• the policies in place for safeguarding the health
  and safety of every patient.
• REVIEW THE CHECKLIST AS YOU PREPARE

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What are the possible outcomes for an
accreditation application?

• Laboratories can receive 4 outcomes when applying
  for accreditation
• Accreditation with Exemplary Status
• Accreditation
• Provisional Accreditation
• Denied Accreditation

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Accreditation with Exemplary Status

• Laboratories where 100 of the neurologists and
  physiatrists practicing in the laboratory are
  certified by the ABEM or ABPNs subspecialty
  certification in clinical neurophysiology with 6
  months training in EDX or Neuromuscular Medicine
  certification, will be eligible for exemplary
  status.
• This status will be the highest level of
  accreditation recognized by the AANEM.
• Granted for 5 years

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Granted Accreditation

• Granted to any program that, in the exclusive
  judgment of the AANEM Board of Directors, meets
  the Standards in a satisfactory manner.
• Full accreditation is granted for 5 years.
• Laboratories granted accreditation may become
  accredited with exemplary status by submitting
  documentation of ABEM, ABPN Clinical
  Neurophysiology, or Neuromuscular Medicine
  certification for each physician not previously
  certified.

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Provisional Accreditation

• Granted to programs making initial application
  that, in the exclusive judgment of the AANEM
  Board of Directors, do not meet all the
  Standards, but for which the Board of Directors
  believes there is a reasonable expectation that
  they will be met within 60 days for most
  standards and up to 2 years for board
  certification.
• Laboratories receiving provisional accreditation
  will be expected to submit a compliance statement
  in 60 days evidencing that they have corrected
  the problems identified in their application.
• Laboratory Physicians (physicians that have not
  completed primary board certification) will have
  up to 2 years to complete certification.

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Denied Accreditation

• Programs failing to comply with accreditation
  standards.
• Those denied accreditation will need to wait 1
  year to reapply.
• It is the goal of the accreditation committee to
  work with laboratories to correct deficiencies
  prior to denying accreditation.

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Re-accreditation

• Accreditation is granted for 5 years.
• Laboratories will be required to submit yearly
  reports to submit any changes in the laboratory.

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What is the cost of becoming accredited?

• Application Request - 75
• Accreditation Fee (1-3 physicians) - 1000
• Fee per physician (4 physicians) - 200
• Fee per satellite laboratory - 200

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Are site visits mandatory?

• No, site visits will only be performed if the
  accreditation committee reviewers are concerned
  about the accuracy of the information submitted
  in the accreditation application.

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What has been the level of interest in
accreditation?

• Over 250 laboratories have expressed interest in
  becoming accredited.
• Many laboratories are utilizing the check list in
  anticipation.
• Nearly 1500 payors will learn about the program
  in early 2009.

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How will payors learn about the value of
Electrodiagnostic Laboratory Accreditation?

• The AANEM will promote the Accreditation program
  to nearly 1500 payors nationwide to build
  awareness and credibility for this important
  patient care initiative.
• Many insurance companies have adopted the
  American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the
  American College of Radiologys accreditation
  programs in their coverage policies.
• The AANEM will work to encourage insurance
  companies to adopt Electrodiagnostic Laboratory
  Accreditation to assure patients receive the best
  possible electrodiagnostic evaluation and care.

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The Benefit of being the 1st Accredited
Laboratory in Each State

• Their accreditation certificate will state that
  the laboratory was the first in the state.
• A press release will be available to share with
  the local news source.
• The AANEM News will feature the first accredited
  laboratories in each state.

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Questions?