Outpatient Surgery Safety — The Florida Data

In 2000, in response to concerns about the dangers of office-based procedures, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration mandated that physicians report all adverse events in the office setting that caused death or necessitated hospital admission.

In the first 5 years, 351 adverse events were reported. Among the 110 events connected to surgical procedures, there were 25 deaths and 85 hospital transfers. Thirteen transfers and five deaths were associated with use of intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. No events were associated with tumescent local anesthesia. Of the physicians involved, 96% were board certified and 98% had hospital privileges; 47% of the offices in which adverse events occurred had been accredited by an accred…