Becker's ASC Review

16 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP Here's what's drawing patients to ASCs By Patsy Newitt F rom physician influence to fear of COVID-19 infection, 17 ASC leaders spoke to Becker's about what's drawing patients to ASCs over hospitals. Editor's note: ese answers were edited lightly for clarity and brevity. Scott ellman, MD. Surgeon at Lawrence (Kan.) Plastic Surgery: e providers. As more surgeons recognize that ASCs are more efficient and easy places to work they move their patients to those settings over a hospital-based facility. Patients prefer the convenience and lower out-of-pocket costs typically seen at an ASC. Andrew Wade. CEO of OrthoSC (Myrtle Beach, S.C.): Efficiency, access and experi- ence. When patients choose an orthopedic ASC, they're choosing a hyper-focused center of care where, in most cases, all that center does is orthopedic care. We eat, sleep and breathe the work of getting patients in to be taken care of quickly, making the process seamless, and ensuring that our teams are focused on creating really great experiences. Additionally, while most consumers don't recognize it yet, ASCs are substantially lowering the cost of care for the healthcare system as a whole. We're big fans of our hospital partners within our com- munity, and they play a vital role, but they are much bigger organisms, and they have significantly greater complexity to take care of under their roofs. We get to zero-in and really deliver focused excellence. Catherine Llavanes. CEO of Sante Health Partners (Los Angeles): One of the biggest drivers in the increase of surgical procedures in ambulatory settings is the comfort of knowing that every patient who is scheduled for elective surgery that day is most likely in good health and COVID-19 tested. Healthy patients have fear of contracting COVID-19 and having to go home to heal in the com- fort of their own home has been added plus. Brenda Carter. Administrator of Wilming- ton (N.C.) SurgCare: Patients and providers are heading to ASCs for the ease of access, lower costs and patient experience. ASCs are less intimidating, more accommodating and personable. I have heard that patients don't feel like "just a number" here like at hospitals. Patients also tell us they have been trying to stay away from the hospitals since the pandemic due to the fear of inadver- tently being exposed. Benita Tapia, RN. Administrator of 90210 Surgery Medical Center (Beverly Hills, Ca- lif.): Patients feel safer going to ASCs now rather than hospitals because ASCs do not intake sick COVID-19 patients, and that is still a concern to patients. e cost of having surgery is oen at less of a cost to the patient than having surgery in the hospital Erika Wilcox, RN. CEO of Surgery Center of Boerne (Texas): Patient selection is key in the ASC setting. ese patients are directly involved in their care, choosing to have services provided — such as a total joint re- placement — and knowing that they will be going home aer their procedure. ere are always opportunities to educate them about cost savings involved with an ambulatory setting as well — just one of the many perks of being in this environment. Ann Cook, RN. Director of Nursing at Best Surgery and erapies (Cincinnati): I believe one of the main factors drawing patients to ASCs over hospitals right now is the belief that ASCs tend to deliver more patient-centric care. Within the ASC, the patient is not seen as just a number. e ASC industry has done an outstanding job in conveying the message to patients that we can provide the expert medical care they need, in the convenient manner they desire, while meeting the highest standards of care. Bill Lindsey. CEO of OrthoGeorgia (Ma- con): Patients are still concerned with the transmission of COVID-19 in the hospital. Other concerns are increased infection rates along with the use of non-traditional staff (i.e., travel nurses, etc.). Laura Galeazzi. Administrator of Ante- lope Valley Surgical Institute (Lancaster, Calif.): I believe, for the most part, patients trust their physicians and the decisions their physicians make on where their surgery should take place, whether it be in a hospital or as an outpatient at an ASC. With that being said, patients are more knowledgeable now since the COVID-19 pandemic, and many patients believe ASCs are safer when it comes down to being exposed to the virus and prefer ASCs over a hospital setting. Why ASCs are attractive to physicians in the era of hospital employment By Patsy Newitt S andra Berreth, RN, director of the Foothill Surgery Cen- ter at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, Calif., spoke to Becker's about what ASCs can do to attract physicians. Question: How can ASCs attract physicians? Sandra Berreth: That's an interesting question and, based on my knowledge set, it used to be that just the idea of work- ing in an efficient environment like an ASC was enough. So we would contact surgeons and appeal to their nature of ef- ficiency with helpful productive staff (that would often get them interested). The hook was ownership — if ownership was available, that was always a necessary part of the equa- tion. It is not that easy anymore, with hospitals employing the docs, these physicians are often restricted to work in the [hospital outpatient departments] and main operating rooms of those healthcare organizations. How does an ASC do that? ASCs give the surgeon back time and quality. The processes that are innate in an ASC are ef- ficiency (ASCs appeal to the docs); great staff with caring and resilient attitudes to just getting it done; time management (turn-over, scheduling, staying on time); quality manage- ment, in other words. Doing what needs to be done as soon as possible; infection prevention; safety protocols. n

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