When a surgical procedure includes a biopsy, the tissue specimen goes to a laboratory for analysis, and the result comes back to the physician. That much is clear, wherever the surgery took place. What happens next, however, can be a mystery in the context of an ambulatory surgery center (ASC).…

Here comes the 10th patient of the day, out of the operating room and into the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Quick: Does she have any allergies? What medications has she received? And is that her daughter in the waiting room? Even in the smaller setting of an ambulatory surgery center…

Health care is not shy about adopting new technology when it comes to the latest generation of computed tomography, linear accelerators for cancer treat-ment, or other scientific innovations. Yet in their business functions, facilities have been reluctant to invest in information technology such as electronic medical records (EMR) and purchasing…

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the long-awaited final revision of the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) conditions for coverage (CfCs) on Oct 30, 2008. The CfCs spell out the rules for ASCs participating in Medicare. They were issued as part of a larger rule that includes updates…

Estimated ASC payment change by specialty Percent change from 2008 rates at blended rate. Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare issued its final 2009 policies and payment rates for ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) Oct 30, 2008. The changes issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)…

Two things are true about information technology: It is critical for organizations to succeed, or even survive, and it is expensive. For one small ambulatory surgery center (ASC) striving to meet financial and growth objectives, ingenuity proved to be the answer. At The Center for Special Surgery at Texas Center…

By passing then overriding President Bush's veto of legislation that would have reduced Medicare payments to physicians, Congress demonstrated an often-forgotten fact citizen voices can make a difference. On July 15, the House voted to reinstate HR 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The act…

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are preparing to join hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers in reporting quality data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Though it's unlikely ASC quality reporting will be required in 2009, ASCs need to start preparing, according to David Shapiro, MD. He…

Average annual salary and total compensation By number of ORs Annual salary Total compensation <5 ORs $76,300 $87,800 5+ ORs $90,500 $109,800 By ownership Hospital owned $87,800 $101,900 Physician owned $73,400 $83,400 Corporate owned $84,200 $98,200 Joint venture $84,200 $103,900 By title Administrator/admin director $91,200 $108,600 Clinical director $80,000 $92,700…

Managing an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) entails more than delivering patient care and keeping the facility well equipped and supplied. It also means managing the people who work there—a delicate proposition for results-oriented administrators who may find themselves in charge of employees with a wide range of technical and social…