QUAD A NOW - A Global Accreditation Podcast

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QUAD A NOW – A Global Accreditation Podcast, where we explore the world of patient safety, the impact of accreditation, and other topics relevant to outpatient healthcare facilities and dental practices. Since 1980, QUAD A (a non-profit, physician-founded and led global accreditation organization) has worked with thousands of healthcare facilities to standardize and improve the quality of health care they provide – believing that patient safety should always come first. Join us as we explore diverse topics, share success stories, and navigate the challenges that define the pursuit of excellence in patient safety.

  1. Sep 8

    Data-Driven Facility Operations in the Age of AI

    In this episode of QUAD A NOW, host Tom Terranova sits down with Alex Lirtsman, founder and CEO of CorralData, to discuss what healthcare organizations need to get right before AI can deliver meaningful operational insight.   Alex brings more than two decades of experience in data and digital strategy and now works with organizations navigating increasingly complex data environments. He explains what an AI-native data layer does and what he sees across healthcare organizations: critical information spread across EMRs, practice management systems, CRMs, financial platforms, and other tools, often with inconsistent definitions and limited connectivity.   His central point is simple: AI is only as reliable as the data beneath it. Before organizations can use AI effectively, they need a governed, consistent data foundation they can trust.   Tom and Alex also explore practical considerations for facility leaders, including BAAs and sub-processors, data governance and vendor diligence, continuous approaches to compliance, and the operational metrics that can help leaders better understand facility performance and long-term business value.   For facility owners and operational leaders looking to make better use of their data, this episode offers a practical starting point to build the foundation for smarter decisions, stronger oversight, and responsible AI adoption.

    Data-Driven Facility Operations in the Age of AI

  2. Sep 8

    Data-Driven Facility Operations in the Age of AI

    In this episode of QUAD A NOW, host Tom Terranova sits down with Alex Lirtsman, founder and CEO of CorralData, to discuss what healthcare organizations need to get right before AI can deliver meaningful operational insight.   Alex brings more than two decades of experience in data and digital strategy and now works with organizations navigating increasingly complex data environments. He explains what an AI-native data layer does and what he sees across healthcare organizations: critical information spread across EMRs, practice management systems, CRMs, financial platforms, and other tools, often with inconsistent definitions and limited connectivity.   His central point is simple: AI is only as reliable as the data beneath it. Before organizations can use AI effectively, they need a governed, consistent data foundation they can trust.   Tom and Alex also explore practical considerations for facility leaders, including BAAs and sub-processors, data governance and vendor diligence, continuous approaches to compliance, and the operational metrics that can help leaders better understand facility performance and long-term business value.   For facility owners and operational leaders looking to make better use of their data, this episode offers a practical starting point to build the foundation for smarter decisions, stronger oversight, and responsible AI adoption.

    Data-Driven Facility Operations in the Age of AI

  3. Aug 5

    Ethics in Aesthetics: Patients First

    In this episode of QUAD A NOW, host Tom Terranova sits down with Dr. Sylvia Ramirez, Medical and Scientific Director of Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore. A U.S. board-certified physician whose career bridges nephrology, public health, and outcomes research, Dr. Ramirez has become one of the field's most recognized voices on ethics in aesthetic medicine. She traces her path from life-saving medicine into non-surgical aesthetics and walks through the survey she conducted in partnership with Medscape, which examined the ethics training, consent practices, and risk disclosure habits of hundreds of practitioners across the United States, the UK, and Europe. The results move the conversation from opinion to evidence, revealing how many practitioners have never received formal ethics training and how rarely the most serious risks appear in consent documents. Tom and Dr. Ramirez then explore what sets this specialty apart from the rest of medicine. Because patients arrive healthy and treatments are elective, the first question is not how to treat but whether to treat at all. They discuss consumer-driven demand shaped by social media, the perception drift that produces overfilled patients over time, the skill of refusal and why so few practitioners are taught it, and Dr. Ramirez's case that ethical practice is what makes a practice sustainable rather than what limits it. Whether you lead a practice, treat patients, or are considering a treatment yourself, this episode offers a candid look at where the field stands and what it will take to earn lasting trust.

    Ethics in Aesthetics: Patients First

  4. Jul 1

    Setting the Standard: Inside the First Accredited MedSpa

    In this episode of QUAD A NOW, host Tom Terranova sits down with Jenny Hartley, ACNP, founder, CEO, and medical director of Skin Synthesis in Seattle, Washington, the first practice to achieve accreditation under QUAD A's new Non-Surgical Aesthetic & Wellness Accreditation Program for MedSpas. Skin Synthesis has become an early leader in advancing patient safety, clinical oversight, and accountability in the rapidly growing non-surgical aesthetics industry.  Jenny shares her journey from critical care and healthcare leadership into aesthetic medicine and discusses what inspired her team to pursue accreditation as an early adopter. She offers an inside look at the accreditation process, including the challenges, lessons learned, and operational improvements that came from adopting a structured framework focused on quality and safety.   The conversation also explores the evolving MedSpa landscape, the growing need for consistent industry standards, and why transparency, clinical governance, and patient protection are becoming increasingly important for aesthetic practices. Jenny explains why she believes accreditation will play a critical role in shaping the future of non-surgical aesthetics and how practices can distinguish themselves by demonstrating a commitment to excellence.   Whether you're a practice owner, provider, administrator, or simply interested in the future of aesthetic medicine, this episode provides valuable insights into the movement toward higher standards of care and what it means for both patients and providers. Learn more about Skin Synthesis at skinsynthesis.com.

    Setting the Standard: Inside the First Accredited MedSpa

  5. Jun 1

    Contract Anesthesiologists in Ambulatory Surgery: Safety and Standards

    In this episode of QUAD A Now, Tom Terranova sits down with Dr. Meghan Valach, Anesthesiologist-in-Chief at Ambulatory Anesthesia Care Midwest, Chair of the Office-Based Anesthesia Committee for the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA), and a member of the SAMBA Board of Directors, for an in-depth conversation on the role of contract anesthesiologists in ambulatory and office-based surgical settings. Dr. Valach shares how the rapid shift toward outpatient procedures is reshaping anesthesia care, and why strong safety standards, credentialing processes, and team integration are essential in non-hospital environments. Drawing on her experience with national organizations, she highlights how evolving guidelines are helping define best practices for safe, high-quality ambulatory care. This episode explores the expanding responsibilities of anesthesia providers beyond the procedure, from preoperative planning and facility readiness to emergency preparedness and patient advocacy, and why their leadership is critical to delivering safe, efficient, and compliant care in today’s ambulatory landscape. Learn more about SAMBA at https://www.sambahq.org/

    Contract Anesthesiologists in Ambulatory Surgery: Safety and Standards

  6. Apr 21

    Mission Plásticos: Restoring Hope Through Donated Reconstructive Surgery

    In this episode of QUAD A Now, Tom Terranova sits down with actress and Mission Plásticos advocate, Nicole Eggert, for a personal conversation about breast cancer, reconstructive surgery, and the importance of access to care that restores both health and dignity. Nicole shares how her personal experience shaped her advocacy for Mission Plásticos, a nonprofit providing free reconstructive surgeries for underserved patients in the United States and around the world. This episode explores why reconstructive care matters and how greater access can change lives after cancer, trauma, and other serious conditions. Learn more about Mission Plásticos and support their program at www.missionplasticos.org.

    Mission Plásticos: Restoring Hope Through Donated Reconstructive Surgery

  7. 11/13/2025

    Patient-Ready Accreditation: Embedding Compliance into Everyday Operations

    In this episode of the QUAD A Now Podcast, CEO Tom Terranova speaks with Debbi and Rick Conn of Universal Healthcare Consulting about how facilities can move beyond “check-the-box” preparation and make compliance part of daily operations. With experience supporting more than 100 facilities, Debbi and Rick share practical ways to build a proactive culture, strengthen leadership accountability, manage risk, and use the right tools to stay patient-ready, not just survey-ready. Whether you lead an ASC, manage accreditation, or oversee quality and compliance, this conversation offers clear, actionable steps to simplify processes and support safer care every day. Subscribe and learn more at QUADA.org.

    Patient-Ready Accreditation: Embedding Compliance into Everyday Operations

  8. 04/01/2025

    QUAD A NOW: A Journey in Aesthetic Surgery and Patient Safety with Dr. Renato Saltz

    In today’s episode of QUAD A NOW, CEO Tom Terranova speaks with Dr. Renato Saltz about his groundbreaking work in patient safety. From his early days in general surgery to becoming a top aesthetics surgeon and educator, Dr. Saltz shares his journey and the lessons learned along the way. He discusses the evolution of patient care in the aesthetic field, highlighting the importance of surgical accreditation and the critical need for patient safety. Additionally, Dr. Saltz discusses his philanthropic efforts through the Image Reborn Foundation, which supports breast cancer survivors by helping them heal emotionally and physically. The foundation’s mission to restore confidence and well-being for women facing the aftermath of breast cancer treatments is at the core of Dr. Saltz's approach to care. For more on the foundation, visit their website at imagerebornfoundation.org. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the future of aesthetics and patient care.

    QUAD A NOW: A Journey in Aesthetic Surgery and Patient Safety with Dr. Renato Saltz
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About

QUAD A NOW – A Global Accreditation Podcast, where we explore the world of patient safety, the impact of accreditation, and other topics relevant to outpatient healthcare facilities and dental practices. Since 1980, QUAD A (a non-profit, physician-founded and led global accreditation organization) has worked with thousands of healthcare facilities to standardize and improve the quality of health care they provide – believing that patient safety should always come first. Join us as we explore diverse topics, share success stories, and navigate the challenges that define the pursuit of excellence in patient safety.

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