Standards › Standard 32 › Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Standard operating procedure (SOP) · AES-SOP-004 · Version 1.0 · Approved by the ASF Expert Committee
Supports: 32.6
At a glance
- Follow-up is arranged before the patient leaves and its outcome is recorded (AES-FRM-004).
- A missed follow-up is chased by the clinic.
- Each complication is treated, recorded and reviewed.
- A serious complication is referred urgently and reported.
- Stop and get help straight away if: a serious complication is not recognised, referred or reported.
1. Purpose
To make sure every patient is followed up and every complication is recognised, treated and reported (32.6).
2. Scope
| Applies to | Clinical and support staff in the hospital |
| Locations | All wards, clinics and departments of the facility |
| When | Whenever the activity described is carried out |
| Does not apply to | Activities covered by another document listed in section 15 |
3. Definitions
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Clinical lead | The doctor or nurse in charge of the area at the time |
4. Background
Procedures can have complications days after the patient goes home. A scheduled follow-up and a named contact let the patient get help early.
5. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility | Competence |
|---|---|---|
| Practitioner | Arranges follow-up and treats the complication | Clinical director |
| Clinic nurse or assistant | Chases missed follow-up and records outcomes | Practitioner |
6. Materials and equipment
| Item | Requirement | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Records and forms named in this document | Current version | Checked before use |
7. Safety
- Stop and call for help if a patient is at immediate risk. Do not delay urgent care to complete paperwork.
8. Before you start
- Confirm the forms and equipment named in this document are available and current.
9. Procedure
Step 1. Arrange follow-up.
- Book the follow-up before the patient leaves.
Key point: Booked.
Step 2. Treat and record.
- Treat any complication and record it (AES-FRM-004).
Key point: Treated.
Step 3. Refer and report.
- Refer a serious complication urgently and report it to the clinical director.
Key point: Reported.
10. Decision points
- No decision points in this procedure.
11. Special situations
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Out of hours | Follow the same steps. Use the on-call contact on the wall of the area. |
12. Escalation
- Any serious problem goes to the duty clinical lead at once and to the clinical director the same day.
13. Monitoring
| Measure | Target | Frequency | Owner | If not met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procedures with follow-up recorded | 100% | Monthly | Clinical director | Escalate to the medical director |
14. Records
| Record | Kept in | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Record named in this document | Patient record or the area file | the period set by the facility’s records policy years |
15. Training
- Staff are trained in this document at induction and refreshed each year, with a recorded competency check.
16. Related documents
| ID | Title | Use |
|---|---|---|
| AES-FRM-004 | Complication and follow-up record | Record |
17. Evidence
| Reference | Note |
|---|---|
| E-009 | Based on the WHO guidance on patient rights and informed consent, the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030, the American Dental Association guidelines on sedation and general anaesthesia (2016) for the sedation principles adapted to aesthetic practice, and the American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (2020). |
| E-006 | ASF Policy Framework v1.2. Adapted. |
| E-009 | ASF Expert Committee consensus. |
18. Change history
| Version | Date | What changed | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | the date of approval | First version | set Expert Committee approval |
E-learning for this document
References
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Policy Framework v1.2. (E-006)
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Expert Committee consensus on Standard 1. (E-009)