Whether you have an ASC partner or you’re trying to do it on your own, getting IT involved early in the development process is essential.

Years ago, ASCs were developed by generalists. Now professionals create formal mock-ups of every wall in every room in every facility. There are experts in floorplan to maximize clinical flow; in engineering to meet airflow and pressure needs; in equipment for purchasing according to a specific project’s needs; and in IT to ensure the ASC is efficient and secure.

A huge consideration for new ASCs is the breadth of experience and scope of work of an IT provider. An experienced ASC IT provider will understand both general and specific needs for ASCs and will have the ability to execute on those needs. A partner in IT can help you with

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greenville, S.C., and Raleigh, N.C. – June 27, 2022 – Compass Surgical Partners announced a partnership with local physicians and Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in Greenville, S.C. Millennium Surgery Center will offer orthopaedic, spine and ENT procedures, along with robotic outpatient joint procedures. Historically, 100% of these surgeries have been performed in the hospital.

“Millennium will bring robotic joint replacement to the regions, providing patients the highest level of care, restoring mobility and giving patients quality of life back,” said Dr. Jay Womack. “We’re excited for the efficiency, and therefore improved patient experience, this center will provide.”

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital has been awarded a certificate of need to develop a 6 operating room and 2 procedure room ASC. The center will be 20,000 square feet on the new Millennium campus of St. Francis.

by Beth Derby

My very first surgery center was 1978, when nobody knew what an ambulatory surgery center was, including me. I was brought in long after the design had been completed. The construction had already begun, and I was asked to outfit the place, to go buy things. I suppose if that facility had failed, I would have gone back to running the Yale Recovery Room and would’ve never had a career in ASCs.

It was Temple Surgical Center in New Haven, CT. We started with 4 ORs and eventually grew to 6. The flow was awkward and the rooms small, but even then, space was used to maximize patient flow. People walked into the OR. Actually walked in!

What we didn’t know in 1978 could’ve filled 500 books. We learned with each project and then applied the experience to each of our future centers. That original company in Connecticut went on to build 6 more centers in every major city in Connecticut. The model for the facility grew over time. And since then, the model has become even more sophisticated. 

May 5, 2022 – Raleigh, NC, & Chicago, IL  —Compass hires Michael Wegmann to join the Compass team as Vice President of Business Development for the western region. With that, BLÜPRINT ASC Consulting Services becomes part of Compass Surgical Partners.

Most recently, Michael led BLÜPRINT ASC Consulting Services which provided surgeons and ASCs with a customized blend of services and solutions involving managed care, efficiencies, patient engagement, data collection, and development. BLÜPRINT helped surgeons and ASCs prepare for the mass migration of surgical procedures to the outpatient setting. Before that, he’d excelled at Surgical Care Affiliates and various medical device sales.

Insights from an ASC Expert, by Scott Bacon

What are the benefits and what unforeseen hurdles should it be aware of before proceeding?
This month’s ‘Insights from an ASC Expert’ column is focused on health systems considering the conversion of a hospital outpatient department (HOPD) to an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). Reimbursements for cases performed in an HOPD are greater than those same cases being performed in an ASC setting. For this reason, conversion of these outpatient facilities to licensed, free-standing ambulatory surgery centers has been slow to occur over time. However, the pace of conversion is increasing.

Why Would Health Systems Convert HOPDs to ASCs?
Among many reasons, a few stand out:

1. Physician Demand. Employed, affiliated, or aligned independent physicians are pushing health systems to provide ASCs in which surgeons have more control, greater efficiency, less bureaucracy, and financial upside.
2. Hospital Protection. By creating alignment with surgeons in an ASC, those relationships become much stickier. In particular, it’s a tool to prevent employed surgeons from leaving or aligning with competitive systems or practices.
3. High-acuity Case Migration. CMS continues to approve higher-acuity cases to be performed within the ASC setting, meaning the majority of outpatient appropriate surgery can now be performed and billed in a licensed ASC.
4. Commercial Payer Requirements. Pre-authorization requirements from commercial payers. These payers are requiring certain case types be performed in the lower cost ASC setting.