Becker's ASC Review

20 EXECUTIVE BRIEFING 2 EXECUTIVE BRIEFING SPONSORED BY How the right anesthesiology partner drives ASC efficiency, patient experience and continuous growth A t ASCs, smooth and efficient procedures and positive patient experiences all contribute to success in the eyes of clinical staff and patients. Anesthesiology teams play a critical role in helping to drive ASC performance and growth, in close partnership with surgeons and staff. Becker's ASC Review recently spoke with Jay Mesrobian, MD, chief clinical officer and national medical director of anesthesiology at TeamHealth, to learn why it's crucial for ASCs to select the right anesthesiology partner. Anesthesiology fosters efficiency and patient satisfaction at ASCs When TeamHealth anesthesiologists work in an ASC, they focus on four key areas. The first is implementing standardized clinical care pathways based on best practices. "We look at what we can do in terms of anesthesia care to improve surgical outcomes," Dr. Mesrobian said. "We want to ensure that patients have minimal complications based on clinical protocols. After a procedure, patients must be able to get up and participate in therapy or other forms of rehabilitation. Most importantly, they need to get home safely." The anesthesiology team also plays a central role in patient safety by using the right protocols and anesthetics that reduce complications, minimize narcotic use and decrease issues associated with being over- anesthetized. TeamHealth anesthesiologists' second area of focus is clinical operations. These experts understand how to implement standard protocols and staffing models in an ASC to increase operating room utilization. That means turning rooms over quickly, as well as starting cases on time with minimal delays or cancellations. In the ASC setting, the third important pillar for TeamHealth is the patient experience. "We provide our anesthesiologists with tools and training to communicate effectively with patients," Dr. Mesrobian said. "The goal is to improve the patient's comfort. Patient experience is a huge issue for all facilities but especially for ASCs. It's vital that the anesthesiology group contributes to that." Finally, the fourth focus area for TeamHealth clinicians is management and leadership. TeamHealth anesthesiology leaders establish a consistent presence in the ASC, coordinate with all the anesthesiology team members and collaborate with the surgeons and nurses. Operating room efficiencies improve clinical outcomes and patient safety Staffing is a key contributor to operating room efficiency. Many ASCs have seen significant improvements by investing in an extra anesthetist or anesthesiologist to help with case preparation, patient assessment and room turnover. "The initial reaction might be to question whether an extra person is needed," Dr. Mesrobian said. "But ultimately, doing this allows teams to prepare the next patients and attend to any postoperative complications that may arise." ASC efficiency requires laser focus in two areas: on-time starts for procedures and turnaround times. To ensure on-time starts, anesthesia providers must assess, prepare and communicate with patients in advance of the surgery date.

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