1. A statement should be made citing the ASGE references as recommendations from a nationally recognized specialty society that were used in the development of this reference.
2. If other nationally recognized society guidelines are also being used to develop policies and procedures, it is important to review those policies and reconcile differences so that contradictory policies are not developed.
3. The Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) has specific policies requiring surgical attire, staffing, and restricted areas that endoscopy facilities may not wish to adopt. In the interpretive guidelines, AORN’s standards are mentioned as an example of nationally recognized standards. CMS surveyors, therefore, may hold facilities to those standards unless they have specifically adopted others.
4. Documentation of the adoption of ASGE guidelines should be referenced in the meeting minutes of the organization’s governing body. The reference should include the guideline, the portion of the guideline to be adopted, and an education plan for staff and providers as needed.