Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1471343
13 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP feasible," said Niranjan Kavadi, MD, a spine surgeon in Oklahoma City. "Traditionally, open musculoskeletal procedures have been associated with postoperative pain interfering with rehabilitation. Minimally invasive techniques to achieve excellent outcomes are evolving rapidly with an advantage of less surgical morbidity and quicker rehabilitation." Dr. Kavadi went on to say many procedures leaving the hospital setting for ASCs allows inpatient units to focus on sicker patients; moving procedures to ASCs can also have a positive psychological impact on patients as they undergo outpatient rehabilitation and a return to daily activities, because they are returning home right aer surgery and the recovery timeline is accelerated. ASCs running lean operations could also force the medical device and supply industry to compress prices so higher acuity procedures are also cost-effective in the ASC. Insurers are pushing cases there, but ASCs won't be able to make the margins work unless vendors are also willing to negotiate prices. "From a financial perspective, the ASC delivers the clear benefit of avoiding the expenses associated with inpatient admission to the hospital, affording insurance companies and providers considerable savings," said Dr. Kern. "In addition, the ASC increases the financial interests of physician owners, providing a clear incentive to save on operative costs via process standardization, which may in turn facilitate a favorable reduction in the price of surgical implants." It seems like ASCs should be in a perfect position to capitalize on the move to high-quality, low-cost care. But without favorable insurance policies and the same boost the federal government gave to hospitals to incorporate sophisticated technology needed for value-based contracting, surgery centers are still oen on the outside looking in at big healthcare decisions. n ASCs' time-saving abilities will drive success, administrator says By Patsy Newitt For Dianna Reed, administrator of Templeton, Calif.-based Sani Eye Surgery Center, ASCs' bright future hinges on their ability to save patients and physicians time. Ms. Reed spoke with Becker's about ASCs' biggest obstacles to providing patient care and signs pointing to their bright future. Editor's note: This interview was edited lightly for clarity and brevity. Question: What signs point to a bright future for ASCs? Dianna Reed: With the continued rising cost of patient care in the hospital setting, ASCs have become many insurance companies' preference for outpatient surgery. In the ASC setting, we are able to greatly reduce the time spent at the ASC, which in turn reduces the following: • Patient unhappiness with care because of lengthy wait times for surgery and postoperative waiting for discharge by doctor • For cataract surgery, our patient is typically here for less than an hour. For a cornea transplant, 90 minutes. Hospital surgery center wait times are two to three times greater in our area • Patient admission to hospital due to increases in blood pressure, blood sugar, anxiety, postoperative pain and much more • Patient postoperative infections, greater exposure to other patients • Costs to patient and insurance companies Q: What is an ASC's biggest enemy in providing patient care? DR: Our biggest enemy is not being able to purchase supplies — both pharmaceutical and surgical packs, etc. — at a competitive price point. It is very difficult to compete, especially during COVID-19, for personal protective equipment and supplies against large hospital surgery centers who have a larger buying power. Staffing can be difficult for regis- tered nurses and certified registered nurse anesthetists since we are only open one day a week, but I have resolved this by paying upward of $25 per hour more than local hospitals. This has helped us attract per diem staff who only wish to work one day per week. Another downside to being an ASC is the reimbursement from insurance companies. We are paid a fourth of what a hospital surgery center is paid, and our costs are actually more. n "e most important trend at this time in healthcare saving orthopedics is the transition to outpatient surgical care whenever feasible." Niranjan Kavadi, MD, spine surgeon