Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1512717
12 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP One of the things we talk a lot about is quality measures. So, what's your mammogram screening rate and how are we screening for colon cancer and diabetes, but none of that matters if patients can't access care. So we're really thinking about access through a quality lens. If we're building a health system and working with physicians that we believe give world-class care, it's our obligation to figure out how to make that accessible to the people who need it. And that is not easy. Hiring is harder than ever. We don't have enough primary care physicians in America to serve the aging population — 10,000 people turn 65 a day in America — it's not an easy thing to fix. So, we are working to make healthcare better for the community. Q: Where do you think that outpatient care is headed in five years, and where are the opportunities for growth? DK: I think COVID-19 taught physicians how care can be taken to an ASC without sacrificing quality or experience. I have a lot of orthopedic friends that for three or four months couldn't do any surgeries because the hospitals were closed down in 2020, and they figured it out. ey said, "I'm not going to be put in a position again where I have to rely solely on a hospital for me to be able to provide and care for my patients." What they discovered is that it's a pretty great experience for the physicians. And it's a pretty great experience for the patient. Ambulatory surgery is not only here to stay, with CMS redefining its inpatient-only list and physicians gaining an understanding of what success at ASCs looks like from a clinical operational financial standpoint. With the healthcare dollar being stretched thinner and thinner, we're going to see more and more patients and physicians choosing to do their surgeries in ambulatory settings. And I think as technology gets more sophisticated, as payers increasingly start suggesting and directing patients to lower cost of care, ASCs are the future for routine procedures. en the really sick, really fragile, really complicated patients and surgeries will be done in a hospital, which is the right thing. We will always need world-class hospitals. e very sick, fragile complicated patients and intricate complicated surgeries, will be done in hospitals, where highly skilled specialists have access to operating rooms that allow for the most advanced equipment, multidisciplinary surgical teams and the ability to have specially trained nurses and support staff to care for the patient as long as is necessary. I'm very excited about the future of ASCs. We have a partnership with SCA, with more than a few surgery centers in the market. e other part that I think is interesting is that physicians can have equity in ASCs. So, there's a portion of them wanting to optimize the business and optimize the care', it's a very compelling value proposition for the physician community. MemorialCare is uniquely positioned. We can be a catalyst for change in healthcare nationally. Do I really think we can be that catalyst? It will be hard — but yes, we can do it. n Why ASC leaders are hopeful By Patsy Newitt F rom positive work culture to a prioritization of self care, five ASC leaders joined Becker's to discuss what is making them hopeful. Question: What in the healthcare industry is making you hopeful right now? Why? Editor's note: These responses were edited lightly for clarity and length. Christine Blackburn, BSN, RN. Administrator of South Kansas City Surgicenter (Overland Park): I am hopeful when I see how we have created a good culture at our center by focusing on the staff and providers. Hiring for culture is also the way to increase morale and keep it at an all-time high. We may not be able to compete with hospital salaries, but we offer so much more with no on-call, holidays or weekends and flexible scheduling. Everyone needs to feel that they are a significant part of our center and they are part of our "work family." Alfonso del Granado. Administrator and CEO of Covenant High Plains Surgery Centers (Lubbock, Texas): What makes me hopeful this year is what appears to be a slow but steady normalization in the healthcare labor market, so that we may be able to afford to continue providing quality care at reasonable rates to our patients despite Washington D.C.'s reticence. Jerry Orloff. CEO of Southern Eye Center (Hattiesburg, Miss.): The return to the workplace of more and more people over age 50 and 60. These people bring with them a tremendous amount of experience and the work ethic that I am hopeful can be imported upon younger, less experienced employees for the good of all. Jose Rivera. Administrator of Tri-County Heart Institute (The Villages, Fla.): We are seeing a new generation prioritize self-care and preventative health, potentially leading to a shift away from traditional health insurance in favor of catastrophic or hospital coverage. Also, promoting women to be part of STEM programs, particularly in specialized medicine. Cheri Smith, RN. Former ASC Administrator of St. John's Surgery Center (Fort Myers, Fla.) While it seems to me that healthcare as a whole is on an ever-declining slope to ultimate failure, I am pleased to see that it seems that more qualified providers are returning to the workforce, albeit with some caveats. Hiring trends now are much healthier than when compared to a year ago, and while many of those seeking employment are expressing desires to have a greater control over their work-life balance, it is at least something for administration and facilities to work with as opposed to the limited pools in recent times. It is a strong belief of mine and relative to my experience that satisfied employees are the backbone to any successful business, and the satisfaction that they seek certainly varies between individuals. Balancing this among available resources typically leads to stronger teams, which lends to happier patients, contributing to satisfied doctors and ultimately pleased administration and shareholders. Quality most often outvalues quantity each and every time. n