Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/583494
45 Quality & Accreditation Since 2006, Socius Marketing has worked with many of the nation's premier healthcare providers, helping them to develop their online identity and build powerful patient acquisition programs that consistently help to increase the census at their facilities. Our Services Include: • Responsive Web Design • Copywriting • Optimization • Paid Inclusion • Social Management Learn more at www.sociusmarketing.com or contact us at 888-876-2487 Responsive Design & Medical Copywriting 2015-Beckers-ASC-Review-Ad.indd 1 9/3/2015 5:24:25 PM The Low-Hanging Fruit of ASC OR Efficiency: 6 Best Practices By Anuja Vaidya T he operating room is the nucleus of any ASC and OR efficiency can make or break a facility. "You are getting paid the same amount for a long or short procedure, for pro- cedures with more supplies and with fewer sup- plies," says Stephanie Martin, RN, BSN, CNOR, CASC, administrator at Flagler Surgery Center in St. Augustine, Fla. "So efficiency improves profit- ability. You can fit in more procedures in a day when the OR is running at full efficiency." Here are six best practices that are the low hang- ing fruit of ensuring OR efficiency: 1. Prepare well in advance. Get as much information as possible about the patient before they come in for a procedure, says Ms. Martin. Prepare for any health issues they may have, such as allergies, recurring health problems or medica- tion sensitivities. ASCs can use tools such as on- line health assessments to determine these issues. "e phrase 'don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today' is very pertinent in an ASC," says Ms. Martin. "Try and address as many pa- tient issues as possible before the patient enters the facility." Remind patients of the things they must do before coming in for surgery, she says, such as not eating anything aer midnight the night before surgery or making sure a responsible adult is able to pick them up and stay with them post-surgery. 2. Assume responsibility for inefficien- cies. One of the biggest mistakes surgery center leaders make is assuming there are aspects of ASC efficiency outside their control. Instead, look at all inefficiencies and brainstorm ways to tackle them. For example, many ASC owners and operators think patient or physician tardiness isn't control- lable; that's not true. "Automated phone calls that remind patients about their upcoming appointments is a great way to ensure that more patients arrive on time," she says. Physicians tend to come in late if they think the OR, patient or clinical staff will not be ready on time. Make sure the OR staff are ready before the surgeon arrives. "Hold people accountable when the patient is not ready," Ms. Martin says. Stephanie Martin