Frequently Asked Questions

At least two monitors must be in the recovery room at all times, one of whom must be ACLS certified when the patient has undergone a Level II procedure and one of whom must be ACLS certified and have post-anesthesia care training and experience when the patient has undergone a Level III procedure. See Rule 64B8-9.009(2)(h)1., F.A.C., for more information.

Yes, a surgical log is required. Copies of the suggested form are available online at the Board of Medicine website. See Rule 64B8-9.009(2)(c), F.A.C., for more information.

The information required on the surgical log are:

• Confidential patient identifier
• Time of arrival in the procedure room
• Name of the physician who provided medical clearances
• Surgeon’s name
• Diagnosis
• CPT Codes
• Patient ASA classification
• Type of procedure
• Level of surgery
• Anesthesia provider
• Type of anesthesia used
• Duration of the procedure
• Type of postoperative care
• Duration of recovery
• Disposition of the patient upon discharge
• List of medications used during surgery and recovery
• Any adverse incidents as defined in section 458.351, F.S.

See Rule 64B8-9.009(2)(c), F.A.C., for more information.

For purposes of reporting to the Department of Health, an adverse incident is an event over which a physician or other licensee could exercise control and which is associated in whole or in part with a medical intervention, rather than the condition for which such intervention occurred, and which results in the following patient injuries:

• The death of a patient
• Brain or spinal damage to a patient
• The performance of a surgical procedure on the wrong patient
• A procedure to remove unplanned foreign objects remaining from a surgical procedure
• The performance of a wrong-site surgical procedure; the performance of a wrong surgical procedure; or the surgical repair of damage to a patient resulting from a planned surgical procedure where the damage is not a recognized specific risk as disclosed to the patient and documented through the informed-consent process and if one of the listed procedures in this paragraph results in: death; brain or spinal damage; permanent disfigurement not to include the incision scar; fracture or dislocation of bones or joints; a limitation of neurological, physical or sensory function; or any condition that required transfer of the patient
• Any condition that required the transfer or a patient to a hospital licensed under section 395, F.S., from any facility or any office maintained by a physician for the practice of medicine that is not licensed under section 395, F.S.

See Rule 64B9-9.001(1)(a), F.A.C., for more information.

The report must be submitted by every licensee who was involved in the adverse incident. If multiple licensees are involved in the adverse incident, they may meet this requirement by signing off on one report; however, each signee is responsible for the accuracy of the report. See Rule 64B8-9.001(2), F.A.C., for more information.

Adverse incident reports must be postmarked and sent by certified mail or emailed within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of the adverse incident.

You may download and print a copy of the Physician Office Adverse Incident Report form.

Mail by certified mail the completed adverse incident report to

Department of Health, Consumer Services Unit,

4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-75,

Tallahassee, Florida 32399

or send by email to MQA.ConsumerServices@flhealth.gov.

The county medical examiner should be notified immediately. See Rule 64B8-9.001(3), F.A.C., for more information.

The rules require physicians performing office surgery to have a risk management program. It does not require them to retain a risk manager. See Rule 64B8-9.009, F.A.C., for more information

The pause/time out rule is intended to prevent wrong site, wrong side, wrong patient, and wrong surgeries/procedures by requiring the surgical team to pause prior to the initiation of a surgery/procedure to confirm the side, site, patient identity, and surgery/procedure to be performed. See Rule 64B8-9.007, F.A.C., for more information.

Office surgery facilities and facilities licensed under section 395, F.S., (hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers) are required to perform a pause/time out. See Rule 64B8-9.007(2)(b), F.A.C., for more information.