Becker's ASC Review

14 ASC MANAGEMENT Physician pay is increasing in these 23 specialties By Claire Wallace P hysicians in 23 specialties saw increases in pay in 2024, on par with the general rise in physician pay, according to Medscape's 2024 "Physician Compensation Report," published April 12. Here are the 23 specialties that saw pay increases: Physical medicine and rehabilitation: +11% Neurology: +10% Nephrology: +9% Allergy and immunology: +9% Emergency medicine: +8% Dermatology: +8% Pathology: +8% Ophthalmology: +6% Family medicine: +6% Psychiatry: +5% Pulmonary medicine: +5% Public health and preventive medicine: +5% Anesthesiology: +5% Pediatrics: +4% OB-GYN: +4% General surgery: +3% Internal medicine: +3% Radiology: +3% Cardiology: +3% Rheumatology: +2% Urology: +2% Gastroenterology: +2% Oncology: +<1% n Anesthesiologist found guilty of poisoning IV bags at ASC By Patsy Newitt R aynaldo Ortiz Jr., MD, a former anesthesiologist at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas, has been found guilty on 10 counts of tampering with IV bags and the adulteration of drugs, NBC affiliate KXAS reported April 12. Dr. Ortiz was accused of injecting drugs into five IV bags and putting them in a warming bin in August 2022. Four patients suffered cardiac emergencies. He is also suspected in 13 other unexplained emergencies between May and August 2022 but was charged with tampering causing serious bodily injury to only four patients. e investigation began aer the 2022 death of anesthesiologist Melanie Kaspar, MD. Her death was ruled to be from the effects of bupivacaine; she allegedly took an IV bag home with her when she was ill to rehydrate, inserted the IV into her vein, had a serious cardiac event and died. Dr. Ortiz is implicated, but not charged, in the death of Dr. Kaspar. n CMS approves new cardiology procedure for Arizona ASC By Claire Wallace Mesa, Ariz.-based Tri-City Cardiology has added the CardioMEMS HF System following approval from CMS. The CardioMEMS system is a minimally invasive procedure that provides real-time monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure, according to an April 12 news release. Tri-City has become one of the first ASCs that CMS has approved to perform outpatient procedures using the system. Once implanted, the CardioMEMS sensor transmits data to healthcare providers, helping to monitor patients remotely. Tri-City, which was established in 1979, opened its first ASC in 2022 and focuses on state-of-the-art, minimally invasive care and procedures, the release said. n $5.8M Ohio ASC sees 50 patients in 1st 3 months By Claire Wallace A $5.8 million ASC opened its doors in Norwalk, Ohio, in January and has already seen 50 patients, according to a March 27 report from the Norwalk Reflector. The Surgery Center of North Central Ohio opened in collaboration between Norwalk-based Fisher- Titus Medical Center, Sandusky, Ohio-based NOMS Healthcare, and Health Care Facilities Partners. The 12,000-square-foot facility has three operating rooms, one procedure room, 10 patient bays for preoperative and postoperative care, and a laser room. It will serve ASC specialties including eye procedures; ear, nose and throat procedures; orthopedics; gastroenterology treatments; and foot and ankle procedures. n

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