Becker's ASC Review

ASC Turnarounds: Ideas to Improve Performance ways worth the investment. They are integral in maintaining an effectively run center and key in making surgeons' time at the ASC a worthwhile, positive experience. Each member of the staff should be expected to perform at a high skill level. A nurse leader should be constantly looking at the schedule to figure out how to best utilize the staff 's time and ASC leaders should ensure that they contract with an anesthesiologist group that performs at the same high level as the rest of the staff, said Ms. Harbour. 4. Foster positive relations between ASC leadership and surgeons. ASC leaders should always be willing to listen to surgeons performing cases at their center. "ASC leaders must develop a relationship with their surgeons; they must build on this relationship by having continued, open, honest lines of communication. One tactic at our facility improves communication by rounding on our surgeons. During rounding, we ask the surgeon if they have the tools they need to perform their cases as well as ask if there is anything better that we can do for them," says Ms. Harbour. 5. Involve physicians in the decision making process. Surgeons may not agree on how everything is done at the center or what equipment is available, but it isn't feasible to purchase each item that is requested. Rather than simply turning down surgeon requests that can't be accommodated, invite the surgeons to be active participants in the process of determining policy and purchasing decisions. "Involving your physicians in the decision making process is a must. The physicians need to know you are an advocate for them, that you are working with them, not against them," says Ms. Harbour. n 19 ASCs Projected to Save Medicare $57.6B Over Next 10 Years By Laura Miller A n analysis from researchers at the University of California-Berkeley Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare reported that ambulatory surgery centers saved Medicare $7.5 billion from 2008 to 2011, according to a news release from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association.  "With policymakers looking for ways to shore up Medicare's finances and reduce healthcare spending nationwide, our analysis suggests ASCs offer a win-win for policymakers and patients," said Adjunct Professor Brent Fulton of the University of California at Berkeley "in a press release. "Encouraging patients to seek the care they need in ASCs throughout the Medicare system should be an easy decision. Indeed, depending on the future policy environment, the savings generated by ASCs could exceed our $57.6 billion estimate [over the next decade]." Around $6 billion of the $7.5 billion savings were realized by the federal Medicare program. The remaining $1.5 billion went directly to Medicare beneficiaries, according to the report. Medicare beneficiaries stand to save by choosing the ASC over the hospital outpatient department setting as well. n National Medical Development Footprint Physicians' Capital Investments (PCI) has a new name and a new look to better reflect Distinctive Medical Development Solutions the growth of our company and the range of investment and development solutions we offer. Our new name is: PCI | HealthDev Of course, our service and commitment to helping you plan for your future remains the same, whether you want to finance and develop your medical facility, The Excitement is Building Custom Financing Options or enhance your liquidity position by monetizing your existing facility. To learn more visit us online at www.healthdev.com (866) 936-3089. or call Consulting@healthdev.com 8117 Preston Road, Suite 400 Dallas, TX 75225 Unique Whole and Fractional Ownership Models Robust Investment Management Solutions © Copyright 2013 PCI HealthDev. All rights reserved. Publication: Becker's ASC Review — September/October, 2013

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