Becker's ASC Review

9 ASC MANAGEMENT Why ASC leaders should pay attention to weight loss drugs By Riz Hatton Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic have the potential to alter the way ASCs go about procedures. Two big ways these drugs are affecting ASCs are the way they can change the anesthesia process and care coordination. "Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications have become the hot topic in the surgical world," Jackie McLaughlin, BSN, RN, manager of surgical services, outpatient infusions and pain clinic at Aspirus Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, Wis., told Becker's. "e American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends that patients on the GLP-1s hold the medication for one week prior to anesthesia. If the patients that are on the GLP-1 medications are not discovered at least eight days prior to the procedure, the rate of cancellations is going to increase. Having the surgical staff educate the patients on this requirement leaves holes in the care coordination of the patient. For example, if the patient is on the GLP-1 medication for diabetes, they must follow-up with their primary care provider to discuss how to manage their diabetes for the week that they are off of the medication." Unregulated copycats of GLP-1 medications can cause problems for ASCs and patients alike, Ms. McLaughlin told Becker's. "Another factor that is concerning my staff are the patients that receive their GLP-1s from markets that are not regulated by the FDA, and therefore not prescribed by a physician," she said. "If the patient fails to disclose they are on this medication, there could be great risk to the patient." ese drugs also have the potential to disrupt orthopedics ASCs for the better. "GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic and Wegovy will be a positive disruptive force in the orthopedic industry, by providing a new way to better control Type 2 diabetes," omas DeBerardino, MD, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at UT Health San Antonio, told Becker's. "GLP-1 receptor agonists such as these have also been shown to reduce fracture risk in this subset of patients. Reducing hip fractures (by almost 40% in one study) in patients with Type 2 diabetes would be an incredible secondary benefit." n Planning commission denies Corewell Health's ASC, medical office building proposal By Claire Wallace T he Royal Oak (Mich.) Planning Commission has denied a proposal from Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Corewell Health to open an ASC and medical office building, according to an April 17 report from the Royal Oak Review. The facility was denied on a 6-1 vote, but the commission postponed action until their May meeting to give Corewell time to work out concerns with the proposed development. Corewell's building would be two stories and 88,000 square feet with 317 parking spaces. The first floor would consist of traditional medical offices, while the second floor would house an ASC. The facility was denied following concerns from residents in the area, who believe it would impact their privacy and safety. Some residents suggested that Corewell put up a wall to separate the facility's parking lot from people's homes. Commissioner Anne Bueche believed that the site plan was proposing too many parking spaces and voiced some issues regarding accessibility for bicyclists and bus riders. Corewell Health has until May 14 to revise the plan and re- present it to the planning commission. n Noncompetes cost workers $300B each year By Paige Haeffele N oncompete clauses lead to wage reduction totaling $300 billion each year, according to an April 21 article by DCReport. Using data from the Economic Policy Institute, DCReport found that noncompete clauses decrease the pay of workers subject to them by approximately 15%. The debate behind regulating noncompete clauses has come to a head recently, as the FTC will begin to hold hearings April 23 on its plan to create stricter rules around the enforcement of noncompete contracts, according to DCReport. Physicians are among those affected, and according to Thomas Pliura, MD, physician and attorney in Le Roy, Ill., they are not in the best interest of physicians nor patients. "Virtually all of those doctors are coerced into signing binding noncompete provisions that prohibit these physicians from leaving the employment status to go back to the private practice of medicine," Dr. Pliura recently told Becker's. "These physicians are led to believe the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but when they go into an employed setting, that is not always true. But they are handcuffed by these restrictive noncompetes. I hold the opinion that one of the worst things for the public [are] noncompete clauses." n

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