Becker's ASC Review

9 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP Tina Driggers. Administrator of Day Surgery Center (Winter Haven, Fla.): e biggest opportunity for growth in the next five years is total joints, more invasive spine surgery and robotics. Making sure that you have an exceptional staff is key to growth. I also believe that AI will play a larger role in the future. AI will play an important role in reducing waste and assisting staff with their daily tasks. Stephen Esper, MD. Director of the UPMC Center for Perioperative Care (Pittsburgh): Systems everywhere are looking to expand the number of patients and types of surgery in ASCs because of cost at hospitals and a greater profit margin. I believe the next best steps are increasing minimally invasive spine surgery, percutaneous spine surgery such as kyphoplasty, as well as surgeries for hernia repairs and even, possibly, cholecystectomies. Of course patient selection will be important especially concerning obstructive sleep apnea with high BMI, ICD, CHF among others. James Flaherty. Professor of Cardiology at Northwestern Medicine (Chicago): For cardiology, CMS approval for straightforward electrophysiology ablations would be a huge step forward. Brian Gantwerker, MD. Neurosurgeon at the Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: e biggest growth opportunity in spine for ASCs in more markets will be in endoscopic spine surgery and outpatient single level arthroplasty and fusion. Time and experience has shown that with the right patient and operation, many of these can be done in an ambulatory setting. Careful preoperative evaluation and risk stratification can enhance safety and optimize recovery for patients in this setting. Besides actual cases, the best growth opportunity for ASCs should be in revenue cycle management. It is absolutely critical that billers and claims people in the center follow-up doggedly with payers to ensure proper and timely payment. ey should also lobby their congressmen to link prior authorization to payment and limit insurer clawbacks. Sean Gipson. Division CEO and president at Remedy Surgery Centers (Fort Worth): e ASC market continues to explode across the Unites States. One can say that there are so many opportunities for growth in a countless number of areas. However, one that stands out for me is in the minimally invasive surgical market. With the rapid advancement in surgical technology, and a competitive manufacturing industry, procedures such as laparoscopy and robotic- assisted surgeries are becoming increasingly popular. ese types of technologies are perfect for the outpatient setting given short recovery times, lower total surgical costs and shorter anesthesia times. As the market continues to grow, I most certainly believe that in the next five years the minimally invasive surgical market will land in the top three areas of growth for ASCs. Tara Good-Young. CEO of PDI Surgery Center (Windsor, Calif.): Technological advancements will propel the expansion of high-acuity procedures in ASCs, enhancing patient experiences and operational efficiencies. As innovation broadens procedure choices and streamlines care delivery, ASCs will continue to emerge as preferred patient facilities and exemplify Value-Based Care. is evolution underscores the need for future healthcare education to prioritize rotations and externships in ASCs, preparing students to meet the sector's growing staffing demands. Mario Gössl, MD, PhD. Director of Transcatheter Valve erapies at Allina Health Minneapolis (Minn.) Heart Institute: We opened an ASC last year and provide interventional, electrophysiology and vascular surgery services there. e patient experience has been very favorable. In the context gaining a regional competitive advantage aer the first-mover advantage settles, we should consider the following strategies: • Focus on efficiency: Implement strategies to optimize operational efficiency, which is crucial for maintaining profit margins in the ASC setting. • Expand service offerings: Consider adding advanced procedures such as low risk transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and other structural heart interventions to differentiate from competitors. • Invest in technology: Adopt cutting- edge technologies like advanced imaging systems to attract both patients and skilled physicians. • Focus on quality metrics: Implement robust quality assurance programs to demonstrate superior outcomes and attract both patients and payers. • Negotiate favorable contracts: Work with payers to establish competitive reimbursement rates for cardiovascular procedures in the ASC setting. • Patient-centric approach: Emphasize the benefits of ASCs for patients, such as lower costs, convenience, and potentially better outcomes. Patrick Garman. Executive Administrator at the Spartan Health Surgicenter (Monongahela, Pa.): e biggest opportunity for growth in the ASC industry over the next five years will be addressing the Baby Boomers who have been and are continuing to come upon retirement age. is age group will realize two significant surgical needs: eyes and joints. Vision impairment (cataracts, glaucoma, corneal transplants and retina surgeries) and orthopedic surgery (joints – hip, knee and shoulder replacement). Most ophthalmic surgeries are profitably done in ASC settings for efficiency, safety and cost reasons. e industry is seeing a gradual and sustainable migration of orthopedic joint replacement surgery from the hospital setting to the ASC platform. Kathleen Hickman, RN. Administrator and Clinical Director of the Dutchess Ambulatory Surgical Center (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.). I believe the biggest opportunity for growth in the ASC industry will be the addition of new specialties that will shi cases from the hospitals to the ASC setting. One specific specialty is cardiac which has gained a place in the ASC setting but needs to continue to be recognized in multiple states. Also, the critical need to reduce healthcare costs will hopefully become a major healthcare focus in 2025 paving the way for growth in the ASC industry. Severko Hrywnak, MD, DPM. CEO of Advanced ASC (Chicago): In the next five years, surgical centers will thrive by embracing technology and patient- centric care. Telemedicine will streamline pre-operative consultations, enhancing accessibility. Minimally invasive techniques will reduce recovery times, attracting more patients seeking quick returns to daily life. Advanced robotics and AI in surgery will improve precision, lowering complication rates and boosting reputation. Additionally, partnerships with insurers for bundled payments will simplify costs and attract a broader clientele. As patient awareness of options increases, surgical centers that prioritize transparency and individualized care will stand out, positioning themselves as leaders in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. Namen Iyamu. Nurse Manager at Harris Health (Houston): e biggest opportunity for growth facing ASCs will be integration of telehealth and cross training of staff. For integration, there will be the need to identify how best to address patient care needs with the mobile access. Each organization will need to be nimble, creative and allow themselves to think outside the box when

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