Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1242960
41 OUTPATIENT SURGERY The No. 1 opportunity for ASC growth: 3 insights from Dr. Philip Schneider By Rachel Popa P hilip L. Schneider, MD, is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at e Centers for Advanced Ortho- paedics in Chevy Chase, Md. Here, he shares his thoughts on the growth in ASCs. Note: Responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity. Question: What is the No. 1 opportunity you see for ASC growth? Dr. Philip Schneider: A key growth area in the ASC set- ting will be the ability to perform more complex surgeries, such as hip replacements, knee replacements and shoulder replacements, as well as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, cervical disc arthroplasty, lumbar fusion and some interspinous process fixation procedures. e ASC at which I operate is placing a major focus on complex surgeries, and our case volume is increasing rap- idly in this area. is increase is fueled by Medicare chang- es from inpatient to outpatient status for these procedures, and it's also becoming more feasible to take on complex surgeries in the ASC setting with better multimodal anal- gesia and perioperative preparation. Q: What do you think could impede ASC growth? PS: Not all complex procedures should be done in an ASC. If the push toward outpatient surgery is too aggressive, it is possible that complication rates, emergency department visits and inpatient admissions could increase, reflecting negatively on ASCs as a whole. While this is not the case currently, we need to be mindful of this and make good, rational decisions on our site of service to continue steady growth. Q: Are there any steps you're taking at your ASC to capitalize on trends or protect from potential threats? PS: At the ASC in which I operate, we are investing in cap- ital equipment to enable more complex surgeries. We have also developed standardized protocols to manage these patients, including preoperative assessment, home visits, perioperative pain and physical therapy protocols, as well as postoperative management. We will also be instituting patient-reported outcomes for the ASC patients. n Physician shareholders of Connecticut surgery center to sell 33% ownership stake — 4 things to know By Angie Stewart T he physician shareholders of Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists want to transfer their surgery center ownership interest to Hartford (Conn.) Health Care Surgery Center Holdings, according to a March 9 document from the Connecti- cut Office of Health Strategy. Four things to know: 1. A one-third ownership stake in Connecticut Orthopaedic Spe- cialists Outpatient Surgical Center is divided equally among the 13 physician shareholders. 2. After the physicians sell their shares, Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists will maintain ownership of the remaining two-thirds. 3. Because Connecticut-licensed physicians will maintain majority ownership interest in the ASC post-transfer, OHS determined a certificate of need wasn't required. 4. Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists Outpatient Surgical Cen- ter is an orthopedic and pain management facility in Branford, Conn. n Analyst: Hospitals to see big financial hit in 2020 from case migration to ASCs By Rachel Popa B rian Chapman, managing partner and leader of the medi- cal products and services practice at professional services firm ZS Associates, shared his predictions on the effect ASC growth will have on hospitals in 2020. 1. Hospitals will take a financial hit as their most profitable surgical cases move to the ASC setting. As a result, hospitals will be pri- marily caring for sicker patients who ASCs won't take, which will affect hospitals' bottom lines. 2. Rural hospitals will be affected the most by outpatient migration, as they lack the resources larger and more urban hospitals have. 3. Adding to the challenges hospitals are facing in light of ASC growth, medical technology companies don't have a grasp on the unique equipment and budgeting needs ASCs have. Surgery cen- ters have different incentives for buying equipment and are more fragmented than the hospitals medtech companies have served in the past. n