Becker's ASC Review

27 ORTHOPEDICS Why orthopedics is the golden ticket for ASCs By Riz Hatton Orthopedics may be ASCs' best option for running a profitable and successful center. Orthopedics is the most common specialty for ASCs in 2022, according to March data from the ASC Association, meaning many surgery centers have already begun to unlock the benefits of the specialty. So what are the advantages of incorporating orthopedics at an ASC? One advantage is the amount of revenue the specialty brings in. Orthopedic surgeries bring in more revenue than any other specialty nationwide, according to VMG Health's "Multi-Specialty ASC Benchmarking Study" for 2022. Another benefit is high reimbursements. Orthopedic cases offer the highest reimbursements to ASCs, according to the same study. "Reimbursement for orthopedic cases could always be better, but as reimbursement goes, it is better than several other specialties, making it an attractive specialty to offer at an ASC," John Ryan, CEO of OrthoIndy in Indianapolis, told Becker's July 5. With higher reimbursements comes greater financial stability for the center. "I am likely stating the obvious when I say that ASCs with meaningful orthopedic volume stand a much better chance of financial viability and sustainability than those [without]. While it is absolutely possible for an ASC to be financially successful without orthopedics, those ASCs with orthopedic procedure volume at or above 25 percent have a far clearer path to navigate the other economic pressures on an ASC's financial health," Mr. Ryan said. As orthopedics is shifting away from being performed strictly in hospitals, ASCs have the opportunity to cash in on the specialty, and some have already seen great success. "Spine and joint replacement services have historically been performed predominantly in the hospital setting mingled with the wide range of surgical specialties that span well beyond orthopedics. At Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic, these services now reflect 75 percent [of cases] plus outpatient case mix," Michael Boblitz, CEO of Tallahassee (Fla.) Orthopedic Clinic, told Becker's July 28. n Orthopedics, pain most common specialties for ASCs in 2022 By Claire Wallace A SCs often have a number of different specialities, with orthopedics and pain management being the most common in 2022, according to March data from the ASC Association. The most common specialities for Medicare-certified ASCs: *Note: Several ASCs have more than one speciality, so these percentages do not add to 100. 1. Orthopedics: 37 percent 2. Pain management: 35 percent 3. Ophthalmology: 35 percent 4. Endoscopy: 32 percent 5. Plastic surgery: 29 percent 6. Podiatry: 28 percent 7. Otolaryngology: 23 percent 8. OB-GYN: 19 percent 9. Dental: 8 percent n 10 best states for orthopedic surgeon pay By Marcus Robertson T he national average pay for nonpediatric orthopedic surgeons is $147.22 per hour or $306,220 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' occupational employment statistics survey released March 31. e highest average pay for orthopedic surgeons is in Georgia, where they earn more than $380,000 per year. Editor's note: ere are 21 states with no wage data for nonpediatric orthopedic surgeons. n Rank State Average hourly wage Average salary 1 Georgia $183.57 $381,830 2 North Dakota $179.44 $373,230 3 Louisiana $174.19 $362,320 4 Hawaii $171.62 $356,960 5 Delaware $170.15 $353,920 6 Oregon $169.40 $352,360 7 Arizona $168.76 $351,020 8 Iowa $166.51 $346,330 9 Illinois $164.86 $342,910 10 Kansas $163.57 $340,230

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