Online preoperative screening can free up precious time at an ambulatory surgery center, allowing healthcare professionals and staff to provide better care in a more efficient manner. At Becker's ASC 21st Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, a panel of administrators will discuss the importance of online preoperative screening as well as technologies ASCs can use for online screening before surgery.
Becky Ziegler-Otis, RHIA, CPHQ, CHC, CASC, administrator at Ambulatory Surgical Center of Stevens Point (Wis.), one of the panelists, discusses the challenges of implementing online preoperative screening as well as the advantages of it. The panel also includes Lynne Stoldt, administrative director of surgical services at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla., Michelle George, RN, MSN, CASC, vice president, clinical services at Surgical Care Affiliates.
Question: What will be the focus of the session and what are you hoping attendees will get out of it?
Becky Ziegler-Otis: The focus of the session is on the technology of the preoperative screening and online registration process. It is hopeful the attendees will see the value of this in terms of saving valuable staff time and also maintaining and enhancing the quality of documentation as a result.
Q: What are some of the advantages of online preoperative screening?
BZO: It reduces RN and front office staff time as well as operating room cancellations. It improves workflow efficiencies, facilitates compliance with Medicare standards and puts the nurses back at the bedside instead of at the telephone.
Q: What are some of the challenges of online preoperative screening and how can ASCs overcome them?
BZO: Buy-in at the surgeon office staff level — they need to be supportive in order for the product to be successful. You need to work with them prior to implementation to obtain their buy-in, and you need to give them continual feedback on how they are doing and be persistent. You need buy-in from all staff to make it successful. Everyone must be saying the same thing if patients are resistant and the feedback should be positive of the product.
You need buy-in from the ownership group to support the product in lieu of any patient complaints. There are also some patients who are not computer literate or don't have access to a computer. You need to find ways to eliminate these obstacles so that you can have 100 percent compliance.
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Becky Ziegler-Otis, RHIA, CPHQ, CHC, CASC, administrator at Ambulatory Surgical Center of Stevens Point (Wis.), one of the panelists, discusses the challenges of implementing online preoperative screening as well as the advantages of it. The panel also includes Lynne Stoldt, administrative director of surgical services at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Fla., Michelle George, RN, MSN, CASC, vice president, clinical services at Surgical Care Affiliates.
Question: What will be the focus of the session and what are you hoping attendees will get out of it?
Becky Ziegler-Otis: The focus of the session is on the technology of the preoperative screening and online registration process. It is hopeful the attendees will see the value of this in terms of saving valuable staff time and also maintaining and enhancing the quality of documentation as a result.
Q: What are some of the advantages of online preoperative screening?
BZO: It reduces RN and front office staff time as well as operating room cancellations. It improves workflow efficiencies, facilitates compliance with Medicare standards and puts the nurses back at the bedside instead of at the telephone.
Q: What are some of the challenges of online preoperative screening and how can ASCs overcome them?
BZO: Buy-in at the surgeon office staff level — they need to be supportive in order for the product to be successful. You need to work with them prior to implementation to obtain their buy-in, and you need to give them continual feedback on how they are doing and be persistent. You need buy-in from all staff to make it successful. Everyone must be saying the same thing if patients are resistant and the feedback should be positive of the product.
You need buy-in from the ownership group to support the product in lieu of any patient complaints. There are also some patients who are not computer literate or don't have access to a computer. You need to find ways to eliminate these obstacles so that you can have 100 percent compliance.
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