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.
Closing the Reconstruction Gap with Mission Plásticos
In this episode of QUAD A NOW, host Tom Terranova sits down with Susan Williamson, CEO of Mission Plásticos. Susan shares how the nonprofit began in 1999 as a spinoff of Interplast, founded by plastic surgeon Dr. Larry Nichter after he saw local surgeons left unable to continue care once visiting teams went home.
Susan walks through what it takes to run a safe surgical mission overseas, from securing approvals and temporary licenses to site visits where the team tests every machine before a single case begins. She explains why training is tailored to what local surgeons can sustain, drawing on lessons from Cuba and Nepal.
The conversation also challenges the belief that plastic surgery means cosmetic surgery. Susan describes how releasing burn contractures helps a child hold a pencil and an adult return to work, and how cleft and microtia repairs change the way patients eat, hear, and are accepted in their communities.
Closer to home, Susan explains how Mission Plásticos launched its domestic breast reconstruction program for uninsured and underinsured women who were waiting years for care after mastectomy. Qualified patients receive outpatient reconstruction at no cost, supported by partners Tiger Aesthetics and MTF Biologics.
Tom and Susan close with practical ways ambulatory leaders can help, from donating a day of surgery center time to sharing Mission Plásticos as a resource with oncology colleagues so more eligible women can find care.
Learn more about Mission Plásticos at missionplasticos.org.
8 Sept 2026
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.
5 Aug 2026
QUAD A NOW - 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.
1 Jul 2026
QUAD A NOW - Setting the Standard: Inside the First Accredited MedSpa
In this episode of QUAD A NOW, host Tom Terranova sits down with Jenny Hartley, ACNP, the leader behind Skin Synthesis, the first practice to achieve accreditation under QUAD A's Non-Surgical Aesthetic & Wellness Accreditation Program for MedSpas.
Learn why they decided to pursue accreditation, what the process was like, and why they believe patient safety and standardized practices will shape the future of non-surgical aesthetics.
1 Jun 2026
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/
21 Apr 2026
QUAD A NOW: 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.
13 Nov 2025
QUAD A NOW: 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.
1 Apr 2025
QUAD A NOW: A Journey in Aesthetic Surgery & 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 (https://imagerebornfoundation.org/).Tune in for an insightful conversation on the future of aesthetics and patient care.
12 Feb 2025
QUAD A NOW: Transforming Patient Safety Through Data With Dr. Samuel Lin
In this episode of The QUAD A NOW Podcast, host Tom Terranova sits down with Dr. Samuel Lin, a distinguished leader in surgery and innovation. Dr. Lin, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and Harvard Medical School professor, discusses his groundbreaking research on surgical safety using proprietary patient safety data (PSDR). He explores the challenges of leveraging large databases, the lack of outpatient surgical data, and how his research is transforming patient outcomes. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the future of surgical innovation and data-driven improvements in healthcare.
14 Jan 2025
QUAD A NOW: Beyond Beauty–The Real Risks in Non-Surgical Aesthetics with Dr. David Zargaran
Dr. David Zargaran, a board-certified dermatologist, warns that non-surgical aesthetics come with real risks, emphasizing the importance of accreditation and qualified practitioners for patient safety.
25 Sept 2024
QUAD A NOW: Exploring the Patient Experience & Why Accreditation Matters with Joan Kelly
In this episode of QUAD A NOW, we chat with Joan Kelly, EdD, M.S.Ed, MBA, a partner at Press Ganey, to get straight to the core of the patient experience in outpatient care.Joan breaks down how smart data isn’t just a tool—it’s changing the way we are able to care for patients. And when it comes to accreditation, she explains why it’s more than a badge—it’s the standard that keeps patients safe and facilities running at their best.
22 Jul 2024
QUAD A NOW: Addressing Challenges and Complications in Plastic Surgery with Dr. Michel Rouif
Dr. Michael Rouif, a leading expert in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, discusses the importance of international societies in aesthetic plastic surgery. He emphasizes the value of sharing different approaches and learning from colleagues worldwide. Dr. Rouif highlights the role of international meetings and conferences in continuing education and professional growth. He also emphasizes the significance of patient safety and the importance of facilities in delivering excellent care. Dr. Rouif encourages surgeons to be actively involved in professional associations and contribute to advancing the field. The conversation explores how associations like ISAPS support research and innovation in plastic surgery and advocate for advancements in the field. It emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences among plastic surgeons to improve patient safety and outcomes. The discussion also touches on the role of associations in addressing challenges and complications in plastic surgery, as well as the significance of global accreditation in ensuring standardized practices and patient care. The episode concludes with advice for young plastic surgeons on maximizing their membership in associations and integrating it into their career trajectory.
24 Jun 2024
QUAD A NOW: Accreditation in Action – Exploring the Benefits of Medicare-Deemed Outpatient Physical Therapy with Dr. Richard Hillyer
In this episode, Dr. Richard Hillier discusses the differences between private practices and Medicare-deemed accredited outpatient physical therapy offices. He highlights the benefits of accreditation and the factors that therapists may not have considered.
15 May 2024
QUAD A NOW: Accreditation Takes Flight with Dr. Hunter Cherwick
In this episode, Dr. Hunter Cherwick discusses the mission and operations of Orbis International and its Flying Eye Hospital. Orbis is a nonprofit organization that focuses on eliminating avoidable blindness in low to middle income countries. The Flying Eye Hospital is a unique teaching hospital on wings that travels around the world to showcase the best surgeries and hospital systems. Orbis emphasizes capacity building and leaving local communities with the ability to continue providing eye care. The organization focuses on service delivery, skilled transfer, and systems transfer. They also utilize telemedicine and distance learning platforms to provide support and education remotely.
22 Apr 2024
QUAD A NOW: Tackling the Nursing Shortage in ASCs | Strategies and Impacts
In this insightful episode of QUAD A NOW, host Tom Terranova engages with Jeanine Watson, Senior Manager of the Ambulatory Surgery Division at AORN, to delve into the nursing shortage impacting surgical specialties, particularly in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). They explore the historical context and mission of AORN, the ongoing challenges of staffing shortages, and their direct effects on patient care and safety in the outpatient setting. The discussion highlights unique challenges in surgical nursing within ASCs, such as the need for diverse training amidst high patient volumes. Listen as they discuss actionable strategies like competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and flexible schedules to mitigate these issues. The role of technology in enhancing efficiency and the future outlook on the nursing shortage also feature prominently in this engaging conversation.
11 Mar 2024
QUAD A NOW: The Importance of Accreditation
This introductory episode of the Quad A Now podcast features a conversation about the origins, purpose, and impact of Quad A. The conversation highlights the shift from hospital-based to office-based surgery, the need for accreditation to ensure patient safety, and the role of Quad A in setting standards and promoting best practices. The importance of data collection and its impact on patient safety is emphasized, in addition to the expansion of Quad A to include other specialties and its international accreditation efforts. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of public awareness of accreditation. The conversation explores the international program of Quad A and its role in establishing consistency and safety standards across different countries. The guests, which include Dr. Robert Singer, Dr. Lawrence Reed and Dr. William Rosenblatt, discuss the efforts to expand certification globally and how Quad A has adapted to the changing face of medicine and the responsibility of physicians in ensuring patient safety.
1 Feb 2024
Announcing QUAD A Now - A Global Accreditation Podcast
Announcing QUAD A Now - A Global Accreditation Podcast
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