How important are relations between your surgeons, the surgery center and primary care physicians to the success of your center?

Does the strategy of hospitals employing primary care physicians make sense?

E-mail your thoughts to this question to Rob Kurtz at rob@beckersasc.com. Be sure to include your name, title and business name for confirmation purposes (you may request that we publish your answer anonymously).

Q: Our center is thinking about adding retina in order to take advantage of the increased CMS reimbursement rates and to increase utilization of our eye rooms. What are estimated capital and supply expenses for adding a retina program?

A: The minimum you can expect to spend on retina equipment is $125,000, according to Scott Baratta of Ascent Health Care Advisors. He breaks down the capital costs like this:

· $50,000 for the average refurbished posterior segment vitrectomy machine, including light source;
· $25,000 for the necessary microscope modification (for faster turnover, you may want to do this to two microscopes);
· $25,000 for the laser;
· $5,000 for filters;
· $10,000 for surgical instruments; and
· $10,000 for a cryo unit.

"You can easily be at $240,000 on capital costs [for retina] without blinking an eye," says Steven R. Blom, RN, MAHSM, CASC, administrator of the Specialty Surgery Center in San Antonio, Texas. To test out a retina program, "we're renting some of the equipment for a while. If it doesn't work out, then the cataract surgeons will have a fancy microscope."

Further, says Mr. Blom, supply costs are "terribly high - retina uses more expensive supplies. If you're not careful, you can easily be at supply costs of $750 or $800 and only $1,200 reimbursement. When you add in overhead and other costs, it might not be profitable."

Disposable packs containing laser probes, gas and oil will run you at least $320 to $650 per case, says Mr. Baratta.

For more guidance on adding retina to your ASC, click here.

15th Annual Improving Profits and Business and Legal Issues for ASCs
presented by ASC Communications and the Ambulatory Surgery Foundation
Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Chicago
Oct. 23 to 25

One of the many highlights of the program's agenda: Rick Kolsky, MS, PhD, professor of marketing at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, will present a keynote talk entitled "Building a Brand in the World of Healthcare."

Dr. Kolsky has an MS in engineering and economics from Brown University and a PhD in Economics from Yale University. He is a faculty member for many company-specific and Northwestern University executive education programs and has published numerous articles and has been keynote speaker for conferences on a range of subjects. Dr. Kolsky has also worked in the White House and has taught economics and consulted at Yale.

Here are five other great topics on the program agenda:

1. The Future of ASCs -- Marc Koch, MD, President and CEO, Somnia; Tom Mallon, CEO and Founder, Regent Surgical Health; Tony Taparo, Group President, Symbion

2. 3 Ways to Add Profits to an ASC -- Steve Burton, CEO, ION Healthcare; Bob Wood, VP of Strategic Planning, Acclarent

3. Current Strategies to Handle Out-of-Network and High Deductible Patients -- Cathy Weaver, Senior Manager, Somerset CPAs; John Seitz, CEO, Ambulatory Surgical Group

4. Effectively Managing a Board in Congruence With Physician Leadership -- Nap Gary, President, Eastern Region, Regent Surgical Health

5. Safe Harbors, Legal Question and Answer (and) Peace or War? What to Do When a Hospital Tries to Put Your ASC Out of Business -- Scott Becker, JD, CPA, Partner, McGuireWoods

To see the entire agenda, download the conference brochure (PDF).

There are four ways to register:

1. Fill out and mail or fax the registration form in the conference brochure.
2. Call (703) 836-5904 or (800) 417-2035.
3. Register online by clicking here.
4. E-mail registration@ascassociation.org.

As a Becker's ASC Review subscriber, you are entitled to the following benefits:

1. Becker's ASC Review delivered to your door;
2. subscriber discounts on the audio conference registrations;
3. $100 off registration for the June conference;
4. $50 off registration for both the October conference; and
5. a free copy of the VMG Health Intellimarker benchmarking survey.

To subscribe to the  Becker's ASC Review, go to www.BeckersASC.com.