We’re wondering if anyone has undergone re-accreditation through ABC recently and if there were any issues with what constitutes a “corporate/warehouse location” that would need to be inspected (at a cost of $600 or $850 for each location). Based on the definition to which ABC has directed us (found at the end of this message), what would a company do about any of these situations?
— An off-site storage location for old casts
— An off-site storage location for overstock supplies, OTS items, etc.
— An off-site storage location for old patient charts
— A home office where one does daily documentation/dictation
— A home office where one computes payroll, manages invoices
— An outside company hired for doing payroll
— A fabrication facility (Becker, DonJoy, STJ, etc.) which would have patient information on file
We realize some of these are kind of extreme examples, but we’re just wondering where other companies have drawn the line when it comes to “materials related to the business and its daily operations.” Is storage of old documentation and overstock part of DAILY business? Does doing daily documentation at home make a home part of the corporate location? Thanks to anyone who found him or herself asking similar questions, and who is willing to share what came of it.
“A ‘Corporate/Warehouse’ location can refer to any facility housing materials related to the business and its daily operations. These materials may include administrative paperwork and/or equipment subject to compliance with ABC and Medicare standards. Corporate offices and warehouses will require a survey because the surveyor must review various aspects of the business, particularly patient charts, billing practices , employment records, and equipment.
“The Corporate/Warehouse location must pay for the survey ($850 if more than 60 minutes away from the primary, $600 if less than 60 minutes away from the primary) since it contains items that the surveyor must inspect. Corporate/Warehouse locations do not get accreditation and do not pay annual membership fees.”
Emily Rau
Orthotics Resident
Bionics Orthotics & Prosthetics, San Diego
