With supplies and staffing being an ambulatory surgery center's 2 major costs, no ASC can afford to be without a good strategy for managing its inventory and supply costs. Strong partnerships, teamwork with physicians, a relentless focus on cost management, and smart use of technology are some of the ways…

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Researchers have developed a scoring system they say can help identify patients at risk for admission after outpatient surgery: Outpatient surgery admission index Assign 1 point each for: being 65 years or older an OR time >120 min cardiac diagnoses peripheral vascular disease cerebrovascular disease malignancy HIV-positive status using regional…

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More Americans are turning to bariatric surgery as the answer to morbid obesity. In the past, they faced open gastric bypass surgery as the only surgical route to lose weight and improve their health. But endoscopic innovations, including laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), result in fewer…

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Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leaders sent a message to Washington in recent weeks that they want the government to revisit the formula it is considering as part of its plan to change the ASC reimbursement system. The new system is scheduled to take effect in 2008. Under the proposal issued…

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Time is valuable in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). Patients need to be moved through the facility as quickly-and safely-as possible. How can you balance time with safety to achieve success in your ASC? Simply be sure your policies and procedures reflect evidence-based practice guidelines for addressing common factors that contribute…

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Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) employ a variety of bonus and profit-sharing strategies to retain and reward staff. Many centers award bonuses based on a percentage of net profits. Some ASCs require the center to hit financial targets for a profit-sharing payout. Others give bonuses if employees meet a percentage of…

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During a preoperative screening, a nurse learns that a patient scheduled for a hernia operation in your ambulatory surgery center (ASC) has several comorbidities, including cardiac disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The history and physical are sketchy. In another case, a patient seems confused about the procedure she is…

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How many staff members should we have per case? Are our supply costs per case on target? How many employees do we need in our business office? Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) managers looking for answers can turn to financial benchmarking reports. Benchmarking can be useful in seeing how your ASC…

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Medicare is on the right track in planning to base ambulatory surgery center (ASC) payments on the system used to pay hospitals for their outpatient procedures, says a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Congress called for the report in 2003 to see how accurately hospital outpatient payment…

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