As payers put increasing financial pressure on healthcare organizations, it's crucial for anesthesia departments to demonstrate the quality of their care, according to Spiro G. Spanakis, DO, of Worcester, Mass.-based UMass Memorial Medical Center.
Anesthesia Business Consultants President and CEO Tony Mira shared takeaways from Dr. Spanakis' presentation at the American Society of Anesthesiologists' Practice Management 2019, Jan. 18-20 in Las Vegas.
Three strategies for demonstrating quality:
1. Designate a physician champion. Find someone in the department who is interested in quality work and provide them with quality resources and training.
2. Accept help. An anesthesia quality program can't be successful without commitment from anesthesia department leadership and hospital leadership. All stakeholders must understand the benefits of a quality program.
3. Establish a non-punitive culture. Ensure that anyone who experiences an error in the operating room feels supported. The physician champion should be equipped to help them move past the event.