Here are five key notes:
1. Bellingham (Wash.) Surgery Center Administrator Pam Novotny, RN, says her ASC charges less than hospitals for common procedures. For instance, Medicare pays a hospital $2,900 for a inguinal hernia repair and an ASC $1,700, according to Ms. Novotny.
2. More surgery centers are adding total joints to their offered services, including Bellingham-based Pacific Rim Outpatient Center. The ASC performed 5,000 surgeries in 2016,Administrator Gary Richberg estimates 35 percent were knee and hip procedures.
3. Local surgeons founded Bellingham Surgery Center and Pacific Rim Surgery Center, with both clinics expanding substantially since their opening.
4. Ms. Novotny said Bellingham Surgery Center ensures safety at its surgery center through a careful screening process for potential patients. The ASC also uses various sedation and local anesthetics for pain management. She said the ASC rarely experiences medical emergencies, adding, “We get surprised two or three times a year.”
5. Moving forward, both administrators note outpatient centers will continue taking on more cases. Mr. Richberg said Pacific Rim Surgery Center expects more patient traffic, especially with healthcare’s changing environment toward value.
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