Attendees at the 2010 OR Business Management Conference in San Francisco May 12 to 14 got a snapshot of challenges facing ORs, ranging from the OR of the future to the effects of new health care law. Networking supplemented the presentations and gave attendees the opportunity to exchange ideas and…

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Second in a series on OR performance. Performing more cases with the same OR capacity and personnel—and having more satisfied surgeons, anesthesia providers, and staff. That may sound like utopia, but there is a way to make it happen. The answer is a well-run block scheduling program. The need to…

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Here's a variation on a traditional interview question: How do you envision your ambulatory surgery center (ASC) in 3 years? In 5 years? Those who reply, "I don't know because I'm too busy analyzing last week's utilization," are not unusual. Unlike hospitals, health systems, and the average small business, ASCs…

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There's a new abbreviation you will be hearing as part of health care reform—ACOs, or accountable care organizations. An ACO could be entering your ambulatory surgery center's local market. Encouraged under the health care reform bill signed in March 2010, ACOs are a strategy for curbing the rapid growth in…

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Is there a shortage of anesthesia providers now? Does the nation face a shortage in the future? The answer for the current labor supply is: It depends on your area and whether your facility is urban or rural. The anesthesia labor supply and practice patterns vary dramatically, a new indepth…

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First in a series on OR performance. How can you make progress on on-time starts? Are you attracting the right cases to meet your volume and revenue projections? How can you manage block utilization more consistently? The first answer to these persistent questions is good OR governance and a strong…

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There's a tax on income, on gasoline, and on a new car you buy. They're even talking about a tax on soft drinks. But there's a hidden tax you may not be aware of—the tax on trust—that can undermine your effectiveness as a manager. Max Brown When trust is high…

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Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland, was known locally as an excellent "baby" hospital at a time when the community population was aging. Deciding to broaden its scope to better serve the community, leaders at Holy Cross decided to expand the hospital's expertise in gerontology, opening its Seniors Emergency…

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