ASC must have a transfer agreement with which type of facility?

• A. A licensed inpatient facility
• B. A Home Health Agency
• C. A Private Clinic
• D. An Outpatient Surgery Center

Answer: (A)

The main idea is patient safety through a plan for higher level care. Ambulatory surgery centers must have a written transfer agreement with a facility that can admit patients and provide inpatient care if a procedure reveals complications or the patient needs observation or monitoring beyond the ASC’s capabilities. A licensed inpatient facility fits this role because it has inpatient beds, medical staff, and the capacity to manage post-procedure admissions.

A Home Health Agency offers home-based services, not inpatient admission, so it doesn’t meet the need for a facility capable of admitting a patient after surgery. A Private Clinic or an Outpatient Surgery Center is designed for outpatient care and typically lacks inpatient beds or the ability to provide acute inpatient services, so they don’t serve as appropriate transfer partners.