Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1273559
23 Executive Briefing services to business liability and malpractice insurance to pre-scheduled delivery of supplies and devices to outsourced revenue cycle management. Your contracts with vendor partners should outline any flexibility for your ASC to adjust down or temporarily suspend services during a crisis, thus reducing expenses. If you discovered any ambiguity with your contacts during the pandemic or are unhappy with contract terms, speak with your partners about possibly revising contract language to provide you with greater flexibility and options. A good vendor partner should be interested in playing a role in helping your surgery center effectively manage the challenges of a disaster as your success contributes to their success. In addition, ensure you are discussing with vendor partners the possibility of easily adding or ramping up services should you require them during a disaster. This could include more extensive cleaning services to extending technology support to employees working remotely to purchasing more supplies, such as personal protective equipment. By engaging in these discussions before you need such services and detailing them in your contract, you may be able to avoid or reduce premium fees associated with adding services on short notice. Planning today to be better prepared for tomorrow There is little good that comes out of a disaster, but one silver lining can always be lessons learned from the experience which then translate into changes that better prepare us. While the ASC industry responded in impressive fashion to COVID-19, as ASCs usually do when confronted by any disaster, we have also witnessed opportunities to improve our preparation. Working now to strengthen your ASC's disaster planning, including its financial strategy, will better ensure an even more impressive response the next time your center is faced with a significant challenge. Randy Bishop is the president and chief executive officer of Surgical Notes (surgicalnotes.com), a nationwide provider of revenue cycle services and solutions for the ASC and surgical hospital markets. Contact Randy Bishop at randy.bishop@surgicalnotes.com. n Surgical Notes is dedicated to providing best-in-class revenue cycle solutions for the ambulatory surgery center industry. By integrating Surgical Notes' suite of products and services, ASCs have access to an enterprise revenue cycle solution designed to maximize profitability, physician disbursements, and business office efficiency. ASC industry outlook: Q&A with Surgical Notes' Randy Bishop Randy Bishop is the president and chief executive officer of Surgical Notes, a nationwide provider of revenue cycle services and solutions for the ASC and surgical hospital markets. Q: What have you learned about the ASC industry during the pandemic? Randy Bishop: We have been reminded of the resiliency, creativity, and fortitude of the ASC industry during this crisis. ASC staff and physicians have been proactive in their quest to resume performing surgeries safely in a new environment. This crisis further revealed the ASC industry to be comprised of professional and compassionate personnel as we navigated an unfamiliar and taxing situation. Our industry continues to lead as we prepare for what may come next. Q: How do you feel the ASC industry is positioned as the country begins to recover from the crisis? RB: ASCs are very well-positioned as we progress towards and work to navigate our new "normal." The industry as a whole has embraced the changes necessary to safely perform procedures under these circumstances and developed innovative ways to continue delivering the highest quality care. This includes triaging patients before they enter facilities, thus supporting the delivery of great service without additional infection risk. Q: What do ASCs need to do to effectively manage the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 in the coming months? RB: The industry must pay attention to everything — even the smallest of changes. As cities reopen, we will need to constantly monitor the infection rates and watch for and be prepared to respond to trends. I do not believe we will have another nationwide "lockdown" on surgeries, but do expect we will have increased numbers of infections that will require ASCs to maintain strict enforcement of social distancing, testing procedures, wearing of face masks, and other policies that help keep patients and staff safe. Until we have a vaccine and/or better treatment plans, the virus will linger in our communities. It is our responsibility to avoid spreading and help stop it. Q: What do you think will be critical for ASCs to do if they hope to fully recover and thrive following the pandemic? RB: ASCs will need to maintain their awareness and be prepared to respond to any new developments. Surgery centers adapt well to change and usually do so quickly. Being aware of the new "norms" and constantly adjusting operations will allow the industry to continue to lead by example. Implementing new technologies that permit facilities to effectively track, monitor, and schedule patients will be critical to ensuring continued success. While we were hit hard during the health crisis, with the cancelation of millions of elective surgeries, I believe our industry will bounce back better than most and is looking at an even brighter future than before the pandemic. Contact Randy Bishop at randy.bishop@surgicalnotes.com.