Becker's ASC Review

62 GASTROENTEROLOGY Baby aspirin may reduce risk of CRC death, study finds By Carly Behm L ong-term use of baby aspirin before a colorectal cancer diagnosis may reduce the risk of death, according to re- searchers from Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai. Lead study author Jane Figueiredo, PhD, and her team looked at data from more than 2,500 people enrolled in the American Can- cer Society Cancer Prevention Study-II nutrition cohort, according to a March 29 news release. Everyone shared their aspirin and non-aspirin NSAID use and were eventually diagnosed with CRC. The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Insti- tute, found participants who started regular aspirin after a CRC diagnosis also had better outcomes than those who didn't use aspirin, but there wasn't enough benefit to be significant. Clinical trials are ongoing to explore aspirin use and CRC mortality. "These findings may provide an inexpensive lifestyle option to people seeking to prevent colorectal cancer, or to improve their prognoses if they are diagnosed," Dr. Figueiredo said. n US Digestive Health names chief operating officer By Patsy Newitt E xton, Pa.-based US Digestive Health, lead- ing gastroenterology practice and manage- ment services organization, has named Brad Stoltz as chief operating officer. Prior to joining US Digestive Health, Mr. Stoltz served as western division president for Plano, Texas-based US Renal Care. There, he managed the operations of over 150 dialysis centers and associated home dialysis programs across 18 states, according to a March 31 release. In his new position, Mr. Stoltz will manage the operations of all practices and ancillary services for US Digestive Health and head the company's contact center. Mr. Stoltz also previously worked for Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, where he helped launch a num- ber of ASCs and post-acute businesses. n Hospital sues gastroenterologists attempting to exit contracts: 5 details By Laura Dyrda T riHealth, a Cincinnati-based health system, has sued to enforce a non- compete clause for 18 gastroenterolo- gists who plan to leave the system in June, according to a Cincinnati Business Courier report. Five details: 1. e gastroenterologists have noncompete clauses in their contracts, preventing them from practicing in the area for one year aer leaving the system. But, if 75 percent of the department exits together, among other provisions, the noncompete clause is unenforceable. 2. Eighteen gastroenterologists need to leave the health system together to void the noncompete clause. Seventeen of the 18 gastroenterologists notified TriHealth in December of plans to exit their contracts on June 28. Another gastroenterologist changed his retirement date from June 30 to June 28. 3. TriHealth sued the gastroenterologists March 14 to enforce the noncompete clause. In the lawsuit, the health system contends the 18th physician's retirement date shouldn't count among the number of exiting gastroenterologists needed to avoid the noncompete. 4. TriHealth CEO Mark Clement offered to li the gastroenterologists' contract restrictions if they promised not to build a competing ASC, but the gastroenterologists rejected his proposal, according to a memo to the board of trustees. 5. Alan Peck, MD, one of the departing gastroenterologists, said the initial 17 gas- troenterologists wanted to leave TriHealth because of safety concerns. In a sworn af- fidavit, Dr. Peck alleged physicians received gowns labeled "not for medical use" during the pandemic and that the hospital reduced access to facilities and support staff for physicians. Mr. Clement denied Dr. Peck's allegations in his memo to the board. n

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