10
ASC
MANAGEMENT
The top 8 uses of telehealth in the
outpatient setting
By Rachel Popa
O
ver 44 percent of outpatient practices said they use a
telehealth solution or service, according to the 2019 outpa-
tient telehealth study conducted by data analytics company
Definitive Healthcare.
Definitive Healthcare collected responses from 270 physicians and ad-
ministrators in the outpatient setting. It found that more hospital-owned
practices (55 percent) have adopted telehealth solutions than physician-
owned practices (37 percent). Telehealth adoption overall has fallen 5
percent since 2017. Thirty-two percent of respondents said they expect
to make an investment in telehealth within the next two years.
The eight telehealth technologies most commonly used in the out-
patient setting:
1. Two-way video/webcam (physician to patient): 68.3 percent
2. Mobile applications for concierge services (eVisits/virtual visits,
consultations): 33.3 percent
3. Two-way video/webcam (physician to physician): 25 percent
4. Population management tool (patient texting): 20 percent
5. Remote patient monitoring into the home (clinical grade): 18.3
percent
6. Remote patient monitoring via consumer devices (patient-
generated data): 15 percent
7. Medication management technology: 15 percent
8. Two-way video/webcam (direct to consumer): 7.5 percent
n
New York imposes stricter policies for freestanding
ASC developments — 5 things to know
By Angie Stewart
A
SCs in New York are subject to a new
certificate of need policy, according
to law firm Garfunkel Wild.
Five things to know:
1. Under the new CON policy, the New York
State Department of Health will more closely
examine how a proposed freestanding ASC
could affect the "continued availability of
essential community healthcare services in
rural areas."
2. e department would previously only
recommend disapproval of an ASC develop-
ment if the project would likely cause a local
hospital to close. It was up to surrounding
hospitals to prove that likelihood.
3. Now, the DOH could deny a proposed
ASC if it will negatively affect the financial vi-
ability of a critical access or sole community
hospital.
4. e DOH approved 87 new ASCs between
2008 and 2018, denying just one. Garfunkel
Wild expects the approval rate to change,
especially in rural areas.
5. e department also changed CON
limitations. For more than a decade, DOH
has imposed "limited duration operating cer-
tificates" of five years on all new freestanding
ASC developments without a hospital owner.
Now, DOH will impose a "Limited Life"
certificate of five years on any ASC that has a
significant change in ownership.
n
Independent Texas
surgical practice could
close after 3 surgeons
leave — 4 insights
By Eric Oliver
T
hree surgeons at Victoria (Texas)
Surgical Associates left the practice in
August, the Victoria Advocate reports.
What you should know:
1. The departures left the center with only
three surgeons.
2. Two surgeons left to join Victoria-based Citi-
zens Medical Center effective Oct. 1. Another
surgeon moved to Missouri to serve as chief
medical officer at Cape Girardeau, Mo.-based
Southeast Hospital.
3. Surgeon John Barber, MD, told the Advo-
cate that the practice would undergo changes.
Practice administrator Patricia DeLeon said,
"We may not be closing. There are still deci-
sions to make."
4. Dr. Barber said the practice would an-
nounce the changes "soon."
n
