Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1462911
16 Executive Briefing: coding, reimbursement or anything on the facility side," Dr. Alexander said. "The hardest thing about opening your first ASC is that you don't know what you don't know, and you may not even know what to ask. Even after doing this multiple times, there are still some instances where I don't know the answers. I seek support and counseling from experienced colleagues and business partners. I think opening an ASC is pretty easy, but keeping an ASC open is very hard." Dr. Alexander has worked with Stryker for several years and is now using Stryker as a strategic business partner for the newest SmartCare ASC. "Stryker offers huge value in the ASC market because they sell the majority of products needed to open an ASC and to support operations, from things as simple as gurneys to arthroscopy equipment and implants," Dr. Alexander said. "It's a comprehensive company that includes all necessary product lines, the breadth of which few others can offer. It's an easy decision to partner with a company like Stryker. They have been nothing but excellent to work with on our new ASC." The recipe for ASC success: Do what you do very well and deliver a patient-centered experience Dr. Alexander's number-one piece of advice for surgeons who want to open an ASC: Be superb in your clinical skills first. Surgeons who are still perfecting their clinical craft may lose focus on the ASC business, if focus is lost here, it's a quick recipe for financial failure. Thus, surgeons opening a successful ASC should be able to handle their clinical practice and ASC business with the same amount of focus and direction. His other recommendation is to provide great service. "If you are a good orthopedic surgeon and provide outstanding service, the rest tends to work out on its own," he said. At SmartCare ASCs, the top goal is to provide great patient care at one facility, so the experience is as simple, convenient and comfortable as possible for individuals undergoing surgery. According to Dr. Alexander, "It can be confusing and overwhelming for patients to drive a long distance to an unfamiliar hospital, figure out where the check-in is and navigate the system. At our ASCs, everything is under one roof. All involved entities utilize uniform electronic health record computer systems and the physical plant also houses our Orthopaedic office. This facilitates the patient experience with familiarity of a place they are comfortable in and have been to before." Finding a single-source vendor with similar organizational values is another way ASCs can deliver patient-centered care. "In the past, when opening an ASC, I used several different vendors. There were a lot of 'cooks in the kitchen' and a lot of confusion which made it much harder to get an organizational hold on things," Dr. Alexander said. For the new SmartCare ASC, Dr. Alexander has partnered with Stryker as a single source. "When you consolidate, it makes things a lot easier — especially when you have a relationship and trust in that single source," he noted. Stryker's focus on great service resonated with Dr. Alexander. "Stryker became popular because they provide outstanding service," he said. "That has allowed them to expand, acquire and develop a much broader customer base and become a much larger company. The principles of providing great service are still central to the organization, just as they are for us." SmartCare's interactions with Stryker has been very transparent and honest. "We found with Stryker, if they had the best product at the best price, they would tell you," Dr. Alexander said. "If they didn't have the best product or price, they would also tell you. We found that very helpful because it gave us reasonable options. One thing you don't want to do when opening an ASC is to get behind the financial eight ball before you're even open. The experience makes us want to continue doing business with Stryker in the future." Conclusion At Alexander Orthopaedics, the priority is to offer patients a high-quality experience from the moment they step through the doors to their last follow-up appointment and beyond. The practice's ASCs offer a unique opportunity for patients to recover at home and return to aspects of normal life sooner. "Our patients are our best ambassadors and marketers, as long as you provide them a good experience" Dr. Alexander said. Dr. Vladimir Alexander is a customer of Stryker. The opinions expressed by Dr. Alexander are those of Dr. Alexander and not necessarily those of Stryker. n Stryker is one of the world's leading medical technology companies that offers innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical devices, Neurotechnology and Spine to help make healthcare better. Procedural volumes, particularly with total joints, have been migrating from the hospital outpatient department to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). With the potential to provide over $55 billion per year in healthcare cost savings in the U.S., this shift in site of care is expected to continue beyond the post-pandemic environment. To meet the unique needs of this emerging customer, Stryker launched an ASC-focused business in 2020. With thousands of unique and clinically proven products spanning more than 20 procedural specialties, a wide range of flexible financial options and teams who understand the ASC landscape. Stryker is committed to delivering tailored solutions for ASCs to achieve their mission and goals.