Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1067786
15 Administrator's Corner 3 key concepts to operate high- powered ASC teams D awn Knight, CEO and administrator of Mokena, Ill.-based Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, discusses her three key ideas for running a successful business and where she will be focused in 2019. Question: What are your three core concepts for being successful in business? Dawn Knight: 1. Develop a strategy and share the strategy with your team. Work the strategy daily. 2. Be open and transparent with your team. Everyone has a vital role! 3. Celebrate successes regularly. Q: What is the top focus for you and your ASC in 2019? DK: My top focus is business development and aligning with sur- geons, payers and services that support our vision and leverage our unique position. We have a five-bed extended stay recovery care area where patients can stay for up to 72 hours. We are focused on spine and orthopedic cases that would typically go to the hospital. n 3 core concepts for running a successful ASC J oe Ollayos, administrator of Tinley Park, Ill.-based Ingalls Same Day Surgery Center, outlines three important business concepts for ASC operators and where his focus will be next year. Question: What are your three core concepts for being successful in business? 1. Make patient care a shared mission. Surgeons and their office staff are customers, and we are marketing operating room minutes, but it all goes back to serving the patient. Quality outcomes, patient satisfaction and an effective revenue cycle — convenient scheduling, accurate benefits verification, collection of patient-due balances starting with time-of-service copays — are all enhanced by patient engage- ment. 2. Take care of your employees. Studies show that compe- tent, properly trained, engaged staff are the No. 1 driver of surgeon satisfaction as well as patient (consumer) confi- dence. 3. Safety first. A dynamic and growing trend in healthcare is the development of the high-reliability organization. Patients need to feel safe to have a great experience. Surgeons want their patients to have great outcomes, which starts with a safe environment. Avoiding liability by preventing accidents and injury speaks for itself. Q: What is the top focus for you and your ASC in 2019? Surgeon recruitment and alignment. In our specific case, our hospital joint venture partner has merged with a larger health system. Our No. 1 opportunity for growth in the next year is engaging the health system's employed physician group and working with their surgery and endoscopy depart- ments to bring appropriate cases [to the ASC]. We offer a classic ASC value proposition: quality, safety, convenience, economy, personalized service, accommodating patient (con- sumer) choice — and fast turnover times between cases. n 3 key elements of a strong ASC + 3 big goals for 2019 A dministrator of Chicago-based APAC Surgical Center II Deb Goodman discusses the three core principles she follows to run a successful business and what she'll focus on in the next year. Question: What are your three core concepts for being successful in business? Deb Goodman: 1. Shared mission. From the top down, having physicians/staff with their own agen- das works against this goal. Continuously report on the mission and provide support, encouragement and appreciation. 2. Taking care of employees. As small of a thing as a 'thank you,' recognizing birthdays, anniversaries and recognizing when employees go above and beyond is important. Also, open the office door and recognize when someone needs to step away or needs support. 3. Safety and communication. ese two go hand in hand. Staff and physicians know safety is a prior- ity. Having a medical director on this page is so important. Q: What is the top focus for you and your ASC in 2019? DB: 1. Search for physicians, which would add new specialties, equipment and staff training. 2. Continuing review and revision of current poli- cies, and additions of new ones pertaining to our risk evaluation and mitigation strategy. We will also review policies around opioids and staff training. 3. Empowering staff to keep the teamwork and col- laborative approach moving forward. n 3 priorities for a thriving ASC A my Allard, BSN, MPH, RN, administrative director for Ramapo Valley Surgical Center in Ramsey, N.J., discusses three key business concepts for successful ASC owners and operators. Question: What are your three core concepts for being successful in business? Amy Allard: 1. Choosing the right people who will project the image you are trying to project. You need to foster and support the staff to achieve the company goals. 2. e anesthesia in any surgical setting is highly underrated. Positive patient out- comes are largely dependent upon the specialized anesthesia. 3. Surgeon satisfaction is a priority in this setting. Q: What is the top focus for you and your ASC in 2019? AA: No. 1 is trying to keep up with and comply with the multitude of regulations that are thrown our way. n