Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/239362
Operational Efficiency 16 RR: Our biggest opportunity for growth is expanding the types of services we perform. We currently perform GI, eyes, GYN, ENT, pain, orthopedics, plastics, urology and podiatry. We are going to include neurosurgeons for spine cases, which will include microdiscectomy and anterior cervical cases. This will provide a comfortable, quality-focused and safe environment for our patients. This has become more common in the community to utilize an ASC for these types of surgeries and especially since the patients like going to their home soon after surgery. BH: The biggest area for growth will be in the hemi-knee and possible total joint arena. We are working with home health agencies and insurance companies. Jim Sigler, Casper (Wyo.) Surgical Center: We have decided to expand our facility to allow for 23-hour stays. We needed to create an avenue for our surgeons to expand what they were currently doing at the center. Allowing for additional patients through overnight stay capabilities is a good option for us. Q: Are there any other initiatives you think will really make an impact on patient volume next year? JK: I believe that the largest opportunity for growth in surgery centers is to communicate directly with primary care providers. Many PCP groups in my area are well informed about the "Up until now, the patient has followed the lead of the physician as to where to have outpatient surgery with little or no thought on the financial impact. The greatest challenge has been to bring the physician on board through education of how the ASC can benefit both them and the patients." — Tim Shannon, Northridge Surgery Center cost savings that a surgery center can pass on to their patients. But, in my experience many PCP groups do not know that surgery centers also have great patient satisfaction scores, low infection rates and excellent patient outcomes. By communicating these facts to the PCP groups I ensure them that their patient will have the best care and a great surgical experience. JS: We are also focusing on continued improvement in our service to our doctors. We work to keep turnover times low, keep equipment in good shape, always upgrading when advantageous and maintain regular communication to anticipate problem areas. We have also been working on greater communication to the community through advertising and a partnership with the city of Casper for better visibility. We have produced a video that will be on the city's website. We will continue to focus on high quality patient care and work at positioning ourselves in the community as the best low cost option in Casper. DL: ASCs have long been progressive when it comes to efficiency and cost containment and it is now time for the general public to be made more aware of the quality of care they receive from an ASC and how it can be comparable, if not exceed, the standards of care received in hospitals performing the same types of procedures. With quality-based payment systems well on their way to becoming reality in healthcare providers and administrators must work together in changing old habits and embracing the opportunities for quality improvement within our facilities. n SPINE is Making its MOVE to ASCs ARE YOU? Develop a Spine ASC Succeed with a proven strategic partner Control your surgical environment Meet patients' expectations for minimally invasive spine surgery Spine ASC Partnerships Acquisition Development Management 615-301-8142 www.meridiansurgicalpartners.com Make your move with us!