Generational gaps within the workplace are nothing new—how members of different generations relate to one another has challenged employers for decades. Incorporating young talent with more experienced workers can be a delicate balancing act that requires time, skill and strategic planning. There are currently three generations in the workforce, each with a specific, defining set…
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) regularly lead to lost revenue, poor surgical outcomes and have a negative impact on the reputation of ambulatory surgery centers. According to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, about one in 25 acute care hospital patients develops at least a single HAI. An estimated 722,000 HAIs occurred in acute…
Requirements and considerations for ASCs By Robert Kurtz Many factors come into play during an ASC expansion and remodeling project, says John Marasco, principal and owner of Marasco & Associates, a health care architecture and consulting firm based in Denver, Colorado. “That is why it is imperative to take your time, determine the phases of…
When outsourced surgical implant provider Access Mediquip LLC closed its device operations in May, many ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals and patients were left in the lurch. Before shuttering its doors, Access Mediquip worked with manufacturers, payers and providers to manage the acquisition, financing, delivery and reimbursement of orthopedic and spinal implants and implantable drug pumps.…
The U.S. ambulatory surgery center industry is now facing perhaps the most critical moment of its 45-year history: Evolve — or else. For the first time in recent history, net growth of ASCs is stalling. And in the wake of the Affordable Care Act, payers are all but eliminating out-of-network reimbursements in most markets, reducing…
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) lead to added costs, lengthier hospital stays and are a major cause of both mortality and morbidity. According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in 25 acute-care hospital patients develops at least a single HAI. An estimated 722,000 HAIs occurred in acute-care hospitals…
Salary, wages and benefits consistently top the list of ambulatory surgery center operations expenses. These costs are necessary to retain a high-quality staff, but this does not mean the expense can go unchecked. The tenets of lean staffing can be applied to manage staffing costs effectively, while keeping your A-team of employees motivated and satisfied.…
Coming to an ASC near you: total knee replacement surgery As healthcare costs continue to climb, ambulatory surgery centers are increasingly offering patients cost-effective, sophisticated and convenient outpatient surgical options. Next up for ASCs? Total knee replacement surgery. Starting in 2015, Regent’s Loveland Surgery Center (Colorado) will offer total knee replacement surgery that includes overnight…
Cost-effectively converting admitted patients into outpatient consumers is the new frontier in U.S. healthcare. A variety of factors are creating this unique opportunity in healthcare delivery. First, clinical advances have made same-day surgery possible in many more situations than in the past. In 1981, 80 percent of surgeries performed in community hospitals were done on…
Ambulatory surgery center joint ventures with hospitals and health systems is a huge opportunity as the healthcare system encourages collaboration to provide the best quality care at the lowest cost. Read more->