Becker's ASC Review

8 ASC MANAGEMENT The 3 trends keeping ASC leaders up at night By Patsy Newitt Here are three major trends that are worrying ASC leaders. 1. Staffing retention ASCs have long competed with deep pockets of hospitals and health systems for available staff, and these issues were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. From front-desk staff to anesthesia providers, ASCs are being faced with huge obstacles to retain workers. Staffing costs are a huge burden on many ASCs. Some centers spend one-fourth or more of their net operating revenue on employees to stay ahead of shortages, according to a report from VMG Health. Additionally, the field of candidates is rapidly shrinking; 145,213 healthcare providers le the workforce from 2021 to 2022, according to a report by Definitive Healthcare. "I think the biggest threat towards ASCs in 2023 is staffing, especially qualified, experienced staffing in all areas of an ASC, including business office, pre-op, OR (both nursing and surgical technicians), post-anesthesia care unit and recovery nurses. In addition, sterile processing technicians," Michael Powers, administrator of Knoxville, Tenn.-based Children's West Surgery Center, told Becker's. "Each of these areas require a certain set of skills that are acquired and honed over time. ere is increased competition, and in fact it is hard to compete with large health systems/hospitals. I am also finding that ASCs are competing in the same region against one another for the available staffing pool." 2. Ownership e ASC industry is historically fragmented. Around 70% of freestanding ASCs are independently owned and operated, according to a report from VMG Health. Some ASCs are looking at different deals and mergers to access economies of scale as healthcare increasingly consolidates. From 2021 to 2022, the number of ASCs under partnership by a national operator increased from 1,752 to 1,804, according to the VMG Health report. Additionally, ASC chains are growing. e big players, United Surgical Partners International, SCA Health, AmSurg and Surgery Partners, have all experienced sharp growth in the last five years. Hospitals are also increasingly interested in ASCs — the majority of hospitals and health systems are accelerating their ASC investment strategies. "Ownership is primary. e next-generation physicians have now seen the pros and cons of hospital employment," Joe Greene, MD, co- founder of Louisville (Ky.) Hip & Knee Institute, told Becker's. "Many see that the lack of control from an office and clinical setting negatively affects patient care. e ability to control their own protocols and Is AI essential to ASC success in 2024? By Paige Haeffele F rom supply shortages to increasing costs and staffing issues, ASCs are grappling with a number of issues. Is artificial intelligence the answer they are looking for? The technology has the potential to provide benefits that may be useful for ASCs, such as assistance with administrative work and increased surgical precision via robotic surgery. Some specialties, such as gastroenterology, have reported improved clinical detection with the use of AI. Physicians at Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine who used artificial intelligence to perform colonoscopies saw a 13% increase in colorectal polyps detection. As for orthopedics, presentations at the 2023 Congress of Neurological Surgeons vouched for the effectiveness of OnPoint Surgical's augmented reality and AI platforms in spine, neurosurgical, orthopedic and robotic procedures. Presenters noted the technology's accuracy and effectiveness. Sean Moroze, MD, an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart Bay Orthopedics in Panama City, Fla., told Becker's he is excited for the changes AI will bring to all facets of care. "In the coming years, we will see an unprecedented technological evolution that will disrupt how we practice and deliver healthcare," Dr. Moroze said. This evolution will primarily revolve around the increase in artificial intelligence and its integration into every facet of patient care. AI can streamline care by reducing physician administrative burden, improving diagnostic accuracy, eliminating redundancy and minimizing physician errors. The introduction of AI into electronic medical records will occur piecemeal, with often undetectable change. However, in the coming decade, such technology will be commonplace and come to be expected by physicians and other providers." However, AI is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Although the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare poses opportunities, some patients and physicians are not completely sold. A survey by business analytics firm Morning Consult found that although the percentage varies, a majority of every generation of Americans are worried about its use in medical situations. Baby boomers were the most concerned at 77%, while Gen X's level concern was 70% and Millennials and Gen Z tied at 63%. Among physicians in the U.S., 65% reported in a Medscape survey that they feel at least somewhat concerned about artificial intelligence driving patient diagnostic and treatment decisions. n

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