Four ASC leaders joined Becker’s to discuss the current opportunities for ASC success, from release of cases from hospitals ASCs to operating room efficiencies.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What is currently the biggest opportunity for growth in ASCs?
Trina Cole. Administrator of St. Luke’s Surgicenter Lee’s Summit (Mo.): In my perspective, the release of cases from the hospital and hospital outpatient areas (e.g., cardiology) that have been approved to be performed at the ASC level. To tag on to that, the approval of cases that at the payer level that could easily be performed and often at a better rate having the same or better outcome.
Greg DeConciliis. Administrator at Boston Out-Patient Surgical Suites: Continue to grow organically, through the hallmarks of ASC success — efficiency and patient and surgeon satisfaction. Focus on your current efficiency — utilize technology to prevent cancellations and increase throughput. Try and get an extra case or two in each OR every day, it will add up. Analyze costs: Are your preference cards up to date? Does your staff know what to open, and not to open on the table? Incentivize staff to save money through controlling costs. Work with your vendors to standardize and achieve cost savings. And, above all, ensure your surgeons have an extremely pleasant and efficient day to operate. Make them not want to operate anywhere else. And of course, the same with the patients. Wow them with their experience, and they will tell their friends!
Richard Evans, MD. Vice President of Surgical Services and Director Mini Medical College at Bon Secours Charity Health System (Suffern, N.Y.): The biggest opportunity for ASC growth is orthopedics, urology and podiatry. The cost of the Rosa and Mako robots are easily covered with total joint replacement surgery. Joint surgery has made significant gains in being able to be performed in the outpatient setting. This is further supported by the rare instance of the need to require a blood transfusion since the routine implementation of tranexamic acid — the antifibrinolytic agent.
Urology continues to experience an evolution of new BPH treatments which can be performed with IV sedation — even in patients with several co-morbidities. These patients now have effective and viable options that can be safely and effectively performed in the ASC. An entirely new population of patients who were destined to choose between inferior medical therapy or observation can now have treatment options that were once reserved only for patients who had minimal or no medical co-morbidities.
Tracy Helmer. Administrator of Tri-City Surgical Centers (Mesa, Ariz.): Emerging technology is allowing for more and more procedures to be done in safer, less invasive and more efficient ways. This allows for patients to consider surgery in outpatient settings. A great example is total joint replacements. Years ago, this would have never been possible, but now it is becoming a standard. This is exciting and benefits patients the most.
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