Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1187260
12 ASC MANAGEMENT Kaiser Permanente Washington planning new 165,000-square-foot ASC — 3 insights By Eric Oliver S eattle-based Kaiser Permanente Washington is in the process of closing deals for three properties in Everett, Wash., it plans to redevelop, MyEver- ettNews.com reports. What you should know: 1. Kaiser Permanente Washington wants to build a 73,000-square-foot medical center, a 165,000-square- foot ASC and two connected parking structures. 2. Both centers will be outpatient-only. 3. The health system could offer an array of services including urgent care, cardiology, dermatology, op- tometry, general surgery, sports medicine and ancillary services including a pharmacy. The health system could also add specialties in the future. n Why a Nebraska-based ASC continues to invest in staff and key plans for 2020 By Laura Dyrda B rooke Day, administrator of Hastings (Neb.) Surgical Center, discusses how she is strategically planning for 2020, and what lies ahead. Question: As you develop the center's budget for 2020, where do you plan to spend the most? What is changing year over year? Brooke Day: Salaries and benefits are consistently our highest expense but our employees are our greatest asset so it is justified. e general public may not under- stand the importance of having competent staff to support the surgeon performing their surgery, but we realize the impact they can have on outcomes. e workforce is changing and competitive salaries along with adequate benefits are key factors to retaining staff. We have a management agreement and the benefits provided to us on an annual basis are much more competitive than we would be able to offer on our own. Our employees understand the importance of this manage- ment agreement and are very supportive of the relationship we have with them. Salaries increase annually so we are constantly con- sidering new service lines, new procedures and ways to decrease expenses. Q: What do you expect to do more of in 2020, and what do you plan to leave behind? BD: Healthcare does not seem to be a key priority for the current administration, so I am hoping for most of 2020 we remain consistent in the business we are doing. We are always monitoring the cases that do not generate income for the center, but we also believe the convenience to our surgeons is just as important as the revenue we make. We have done minimal pain management the last couple years and do not have any plans to actively recruit a physician to per- form these procedures. Q: What aspect of your ASC opera- tions are you focused on improving the most next year? BD: We are always interested in ways that we can improve or enhance our patient experi- ence. We are hoping to renovate an office space into an extended stay recovery room with attached bathroom. is recovery area would be used for patients that we typically keep longer such as hysterectomies or ton- sils, we could also use this space in the future if we decide to pursue outpatient total joints. We are also planning things behind the scenes to improve the quality of care we are provid- ing; we would like to invest significant capital this year in upgrading our sterile processing area. We have worked very closely with our Steris Representatives and our local contrac- tors to renovate the space to not only meet current standards but be forward thinking in the cases we could be doing in the future with the shi from inpatient to outpatient care. n Salary differences between practice owners, employed physicians By Rachel Popa D oximity released its 2019 physician compensa- tion report comparing average salary differences between specialties, as well as how salary compares for employed physicians and those who own their own practice. Doximity compiled the report from surveys completed by 90,000 licensed, full-time U.S. physicians who work at least 40 hours a week. Salary differences in employment status: Owner, partner: $430,874 Independent contractor: $341,885 Employee: $314,405 Physicians who are an owner or partner in the practice earn 37 percent more than employed physicians, on average, based on this report. n