Ahead of the The Leapfrog Group's April 1 ASC survey launch, the organization is inviting ASCs to participate in "town hall calls."

Waterless hand rub and chlorhexidine gluconate are more effective at eliminating hand bacteria than povidone-iodine, according to research published in the Journal of Hospital Infection.

Drying methods affect the number of bacteria remaining on hands after washing, according to research published in the Journal of Hospital Infection.

Benzalkonium chloride hand sanitizer is more effective than ethanol-based hand sanitizer, according to research published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

West Hills (Calif.) Surgical Center, founded in 1996, has over 90 physicians on staff.

Sandy Springs, Ga.-based Atlanta Surgery Center has several quality measures in place, ranging from accreditation to risk assessments.

ASC staff can improve quality by implementing initiatives or through easy-to-use tools.

Here is a collection of operating room and procedure room cleaning checklists ASC staff can use at their centers:

The following five resources offer a variety of methods to facilitate ASC quality improvement:

Microbes spread quickly in outpatient clinics, according to new research published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

The Leapfrog Group will collect quality and safety data on ASCs through a voluntary survey opening April 1, expanding its ratings beyond the hospital inpatient setting.

HHS partnered with various entities to provide guidance on how to combat cybersecurity threats in healthcare, according to JD Supra and HHS.

President Donald Trump called for Congress to lower U.S. drug prices during his State of the Union address Feb. 5, CNBC reports.

Englewood, Colo.-based SurgOne was recognized for exceptional patient care at the 2019 CMS Quality Conference, Jan. 29-31 in Baltimore, according to the Colorado State Innovation Model.

Privately owned ASCs are associated with increased pediatric tympanostomy tube use in their communities, according to a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Columbia, Md.-based MedStar Health teamed up with the American Medical Association to mitigate patient safety risks stemming from poor EHR use, according to News Medical.

Looking to improve infection control processes in your ASC? Check out the following Q&As published on Becker's ASC Review:

Gina Calder, Bridgeport (Conn.) Hospital's vice president of ambulatory services, shared her insights on how ASCs can achieve hand-washing compliance.

  Hand hygiene compliance auditing correlates with strong organizational safety culture, according to research published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

The Leapfrog Group lifted the participation cap on its first-ever ASC safety and quality survey in January, opening participation to all licensed ASCs in the U.S. Leapfrog President and CEO Leah Binder spoke to Becker's ASC Review about the decision and what ASCs interested in participating should know.