Benjamin Stein, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and co-founder and chairman of Bethesda, Md.-based Capital Surgical Solutions, told Becker’s that technology can move the needle at ASCs, but cautioned that much of what’s being marketed to ASCs today doesn’t clear that bar.
Dr. Stein identified three areas where technology can make a lasting difference in ASCs: patient safety across the full pre- and post-operative window, guidance and robotics tools that make complex procedures more reproducible, and integrated operational software that helps facilities manage costs and performance.
Editor’s note: This interview was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Where do you see the clearest opportunity for technology to meaningfully improve ASC care, and where do you think the hype is outpacing reality?
Dr. Benjamin Stein: I see the most impact in two arenas.
First, patient safety — and not just for the day of surgery. The pre-operative window heading into that procedure, the day of, and then that near-term window afterward. Having the right combination of experienced human resources and technologies that expand the bandwidth of those resources to accomplish that very well, that’s a long-term player. Technologies that are focused on that, I really believe, will outlast things that look more like glitz and glamor but aren’t really moving those outcomes. Those are face paint, not substance.
Second, on the procedure side — technologies that are robotic or guidance-based that truly allow varying levels of complexity to be done in more predictable ways will be here to stay. That already exists but will continue to evolve.
And then there’s cost. The surgery center is the lowest-cost site of care from a procedural and surgical perspective, and in order to bring these other types of surgeries in, there have to be technologies that allow each facility — regardless of whether it’s part of a larger enterprise or a standalone — to really dial in on internal KPIs for performance and cost metrics. Right now, there are gaps there. There are tools that look at time efficiency or certain components of material oversight or staffing, but there’s not really a next-level integrated solution. Some tools are getting there — Protect is one we use for patient engagement and time tracking, and it’s a great technology. The more it broadens what it does on a cost-containment perspective for facilities, the more differential it’ll become.
So those are the three pillars: care delivery surveillance across the pre-op, day-of, and post-op window; technologies that allow us to do increasingly complex surgeries in more reproducible and safe manners; and internal operational optimization from an economic standpoint.
Q: How has your technology strategy shifted in the last year?
BS: Because we view ourselves as a boutique surgery center management and development company, we’re very nimble and very tech-forward from the beginning. The way that plays out is: if we see something that we believe is a real possibility, we’ll beta it. We’ll lean into it and see if it’s additive or not — and if it’s not, we’ll pivot and retract. We’ve been able to be thoughtful in that method.
And when we see gaps — clear voids we’re identifying — we work on our own solutions. We’ve developed a couple of what I’d call operational optimization tools in-house for our own facilities, and we continue to fine-tune them. They’re tailor-made for us, but they have broader application potentially.
So it’s a combination of: seeing what’s out there, not trying to recreate something that already has a great option, moving quickly to test things to see if they’re as good in practice as advertised, and when there’s a clear hole, trying to fill it internally. That’s how we approach technology.
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.