Ensure ASC success in a rural setting: Q&A with North Mississippi Ambulatory Surgery Center's Scott Edwards

The challenges of running a multispecialty ambulatory surgery center in a rural setting are unique. At Becker's ASC 21st Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, a panel of administrators will discuss how to run a rural multispecialty ASC successfully.  

Scott Edwards, administrator, North Mississippi Ambulatory Surgery Center in Tupelo is one of the panelists. He discusses the focus of the session as well as strategies that rural ASCs can use to ensure success. The panel also includes Stephanie M. Campbell, RN, BSN, MSHA, CASC, administrator/clinical director, Physicians Outpatient Surgery Center in Athens, Ohio.

Question: What will be the focus of the session and what are you hoping attendees will get out of it?

Scott Edwards: To communicate practical ways to operate and run a surgery center, while emphasizing some of the things I've learnt that has helped our surgery center over the years.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges facing multispecialty ASCs in a rural setting?

SE: Recruiting physicians is difficult, and, I would say, regulations. Regulation issues are a challenge for everybody — ones that you face daily, weekly and monthly due to changes.  

Q: What are some initiatives that multispecialty ASCs can implement to ensure success in a rural setting?

SE: A lot of that success is dependent on staffing — hiring of staff and building relationships. Also, making sure you have done a thorough job of orientation and training and ensuring communication between staff and physicians remains open. We always have to be looking for opportunities to improve, from a clinical and business standpoint as well as our processes because things are changing so quickly.

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