Becker's ASC Review

20 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP Good wages the key to success, 1 ASC CEO says By Claire Wallace I n a competitive job market, good wages and a positive work environment are the key to making sure that your organization retains top talent, according to one ASC CEO. Question: What was the best thing that you did for your organization this year? Julie Greene. CEO of Muskegon Surgery Center and Orthopaedic Associates of Muskegon (Mich.): Keeping many staff engaged and satisfied with good wages and bonuses and a positive environment was key to our success in 2022. We hold our staff in high regard. We have an outstanding team of individuals who have multiple options to work wherever they want because of their knowledge, skills and attitude. They get offered significant "deals" from other organizations, and our staff is the reason for great physician and patient satisfaction. We appreciate their loyalty. The best decision of 2021 was to refinance the entire building at an extraordinarily low interest rate on a 10- year loan, which is allowing us to add on rooms in 2022 with a large addition. It was great timing. Our team also added additional equipment for increased efficiency with robotics and navigation for knees and hips, which allows for maximum efficiency with multiple physicians doing total joints at once. n Supply chain, staffing becoming 'challenging beyond words,' administrator says By Patsy Newitt F or many ASCs, including Wilmington (N.C.) Surgcare, staffing and supply chain issues have plagued operations since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrator Brenda Carter joined Becker's to discuss the biggest disruptors in the ASC industry. Editor's note: This response was edited lightly for clarity and brevity. Question: What are the biggest disruptors of the ASC industry? Brenda Carter: As we continue to hear about staffing and supply chain, these two aspects of healthcare operations can really be a challenge. There is no way to "cut corners" on qualified staff when candidates are limited, so ASCs must find a way to improve retention and recruitment. Qualified teams are essential for patient safety and efficient care. The cost of staff turnover is incredible. As for the supply chain, where to start? The lists of backordered or unavailable items continue to grow every day. Everything from medications to tubing is more difficult to get, and a new mindset and process is required to have what you need without causing materials staff to lose their minds. It is challenging beyond words, so everyone must adopt the thought of substitution should a preferred item be unavailable — this is easier said than done for complex surgical cases. This task has become more time-consuming and less efficient than ever before. n High patient deductibles are disrupting the ASC industry, physician says By Patsy Newitt H igh patient deductibles are shiing the way physicians deliver care, according to Eric Anderson, MD, a pain management physician in Lewisville, Texas. Dr. Anderson joined Becker's to discuss the biggest disrupters of the ASC industry and what procedures he sees migrating to the ASC setting. Editor's note: is interview was edited lightly for clarity and brevity. Question: What's the biggest disrupter of the ASC industry? Dr. Eric Anderson: I think the biggest disrupter is going to be the ever-increasing high patient deductibles. is squeezes the pain management space in the ASC setting for procedures that could be done in an office setting. Patients simply have difficulty affording these large out-of-pocket costs for pain conditions that require more than one procedure, such as medial branch blocks. Q: What procedures are migrating to the ASC setting? EA: I think there will be an increase in the size and scope of ASC development, utilization and type of cases expanding in the pain management space — for certain cases. I think pain management implants, devices and minimally invasive treatments will continue to see preference in the ASC setting as CMS has already started preferring this route for spinal cord stimulator systems, for example. n

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