Q: Under what circumstances should a surgery center consider opening on Saturdays?
Bonnie Brady: I have worked at a few surgery centers that were open on Saturdays and it was successful because the ASC was very busy and needed the extra time. Specialty Surgical Center is not open on Saturdays, but we are getting busier and we’re considering this as an option. Our schedule is already running into some evenings. If we were not filling our rooms during the week, we would not consider Saturdays. To be open six days a week, you have to justify covering the extra overhead.
Q: Don’t patients like Saturday hours?
BB: Patients absolutely love Saturdays, so physicians should have no trouble booking appointments. One thing patients like about it is that they have a day to recover before going back to work. On the other hand, patients detest late afternoons and evening appointments. It means they have to fast through the day in preparation for surgery and when they leave, it’s dark and the pharmacy may be closed. Their families are sitting at home waiting for them. That’s another reason why, when your schedule is running into the evening, it’s time to consider Saturdays.
Q: What do physicians think about working on Saturdays?
BB: Physicians tend to resist working on Saturdays. But if they are putting in long hours during the week, shifting some of those cases to Saturdays can be a welcome relief for them. Physicians who choose to work on Saturdays enjoy the freedom. There may be no other physicians there, so they have the run of the place.
Q: What do ASC staff think about Saturday work?
BB: As a rule, an ASC should be hiring staff who have agreed to take flexible hours. But if they are working long hours during the week, working on Saturdays may be asking too much of them; plus, you’d have to pay them overtime. Therefore, it makes sense to use an entirely different staff on Saturdays. This staff would be made up of per diem workers plus one regular staffer on site who is familiar with the operation. You should already have a strong per diem pool to deploy for higher demand during the week.
Q: How many cases do you need to justify being open on Saturday?
BB: Generally, at least two or three cases, but the minimum number depends on the procedure. One single spine case, for example, might justify a Saturday opening. On the other hand, maybe you’d want six ophthalmic procedures or maybe 8-10 dilation and curettage procedures to justify a Saturday opening. If you can’t reach the minimum you have set for your ASC, don’t open up. However, you can’t decide this at the last minute. You need at least a week’s notice.
Learn more about Specialty Surgical Center.
Related Articles on Scheduling:
8 Points About Scheduling Cases in an ASC
9 Potential Disputes Among ASC Physicians and How to Resolve Them
