At the Becker's ASC 21st Annual Meeting — The Business and Operations of ASCs, Oct. 23 to 25, in Chicago, Cindy Vincent, executive director of Surgery Center of Cary (N.C.); Tami Robinson, RN, BSN, MSN, CNOR, administrator and director of nursing, Unity Surgical Center in Lafayette, Ind.; and Vicki Edelman, RN, BSN, CASC, administrator of Blue Bell (Pa.) Surgery Center, discussed quality improvement projects at their ambulatory surgery center as well as the importance of tracking metrics.
Laura Dyrda, editor-in-chief of Becker's ASC Review and Becker's Spine Review, led the discussion and began by asking the panel what quality improvement projects have made an impact at their ASCs.
According to Ms. Robinson, one of the most impactful QI projects at Unity Surgical Center has been their preceptor program. "Many of us can be stellar OR nurses or PACU staff, but that doesn't make you a great preceptor or educator," she said. The preceptor program has improved staff retention and quality. It has also encouraged greater ownership of process improvement at the center. "Communication and education is going to enhance your center," said Ms. Robinson. "The greater the success of procedures at your center, the greater the profit margin."
Ms. Vincent said that at her surgery center, a committee had been established that includes clinical directors, exec directors and staff from all areas. "We start by bringing together all these people and then we look at process issues and policies that need to change. But we involve everyone so that we are looking at all issues as a whole," she said. The committee examines data and look into what is working and what isn't. This approach has helped improve efficiency, as people from all areas of the center are involved in decision regarding the ASC.
Gathering data and tracking metrics is an essential aspect of quality improvement. Ms. Edelman notes that at Blue Bell Surgery Center, metrics are tracked and trended on a monthly basis. "We look at on-time starts and patient satisfaction, among other metrics," she said. "You never want your surgery center to be looked at as 'that surgery center' and be known for the issues you has had. We do monthly reporting and we look at case volumes everyday." If there is a quality issue at the center, Ms. Edelman and her team look into it immediately. "For example, if there is a patient contracted an infection, we look into the reasons," she added. "A lot of the time that type of situation occurs because of how the patient treated themselves after going home."
