Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1541321
16 THOUGHT LEADERSHIP How to create the ideal ASC workplace By Francesca Mathewes A s ASCs face heightened pressure from rising labor costs and staffing shortages, retaining top talent has become paramount to practice sustainability and success. Four ASC leaders recently joined Becker's to discuss the things that are most important in creating a healthy and desirable work environment at ASCs. Editor's note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length: Question: What are the most important elements in creating an attractive work environment at an ASC? Allyn Wilcock, CRNA. Owner of Advanced Anesthesia Services and Northwest Healing and Wellness (Snoqualmie, Wash.): Most would agree that creating a high-performing culture is one of the most important elements for a successful ASC. High turnover, along with back-filling with expensive travel and temporary staff, can cripple an ASC both financially and culturally. But creating an excellent culture is far from easy. It takes daily, intentional effort to create a culture that staff want to be a part of, and refer their friends to work in. From my experience, ASCs that pull this feat off have three things in common: No. 1: ey manage toxic personalities out quickly. Gossip and subpar performance can spread like cancer through any organization. High-performing ASCs don't tolerate these people and help them find the door quickly. No. 2: Leadership is present and engaged with staff. ey show up on the floor and at staff meetings, build trust, and listen. Leaders who are present and engaged can develop strong relationships with their staff and foster a high-trust environment. No. 3: Systems and workflows are in place to ensure a smooth- running, professional system. When patients are screened early and adequately, pre-op, intra-op and post-op flows complement each other and work together, and each staff member knows their responsibilities, job satisfaction, and workplace happiness can thrive. By paying attention to these three elements, ASCs stand out and are able to recruit and retain high-quality staff, even in rural and other difficult-to-recruit environments. Brian Bizub. CEO of Raleigh (N.C.) Orthopaedic Clinic: Equally important is ensuring a healthy work-life balance through adequate staffing models that support both patient care and staff well-being. A safe environment for both patients and staff must be a non-negotiable standard. Additionally, implementing clinical ladders can support professional development and improve staff retention. Fostering collaboration between staff and physicians is essential to building a cohesive, positive culture. In my view, when these elements are in place, the result is an ASC where staff and physicians are proud to work and where patients consistently receive the highest quality of care. Helen Dickson, MSN. Administrator of Premier at Exton (Pa.) Surgery Center: Flexible scheduling, preferably self-scheduling and staff appreciation by management. Lisa York, MSN. Executive Director of Hunterdon Center for Surgery (Flemington, N.J.): An environment where everyone feels important and welcome, where there is some levity as well as focus on best practice and where there is respect between all staff and physicians. A team environment n Copyright © 2025 Holland & Knight LLP All Rights Reserved We Know the ASC Industry. Holland & Knight is proud to support Becker's Healthcare as it brings together ASC industry leaders to explore topics such as private equity and business growth strategies to enhance ASC performance. With one of the nation's largest healthcare law practices, we have over 475 experienced attorneys covering virtually every segment of the healthcare industry. For more than four decades, our lawyers have been at the forefront of the outpatient services sector, providing skilled counsel on a wide range of transactional, operational, regulatory and litigation matters. Offices Algiers | Atlanta | Austin | Birmingham | Bogotá | Boston | Century City | Charlotte Chattanooga | Chicago | Dallas | Denver | Fort Lauderdale | Houston | Jacksonville London | Los Angeles | Mexico City | Miami | Monterrey | Nashville | Newport Beach New York | Orlando | Philadelphia | Portland | Richmond | San Francisco | Seattle Stamford | Tallahassee | Tampa | Tysons | Washington, D.C. | West Palm Beach www.hklaw.com