ASC News

  Penn Highlands Elk in St. Marys, Pa., is moving pain management and outpatient surgery cases from its ASC to its hospital by May 4, according to the Bradford Era.

  The Waverly Lake Surgery Center in Albany, Ore., closed Thursday after one of its staff was potentially exposed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, according to the Albany Democrat Herald.

Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Wash., and its affiliated ASCs are limiting visitors in light of both influenza and COVID-19, according to local radio station KFLD.

Medical procedures delayed in response to the new coronavirus will likely be made up at hospitals and ASCs once the dust settles, Jefferies analysts told MarketWatch.

The Florida Senate is voting this week on a bill that would broaden where consultant pharmacists are allowed to practice, according to local media outlet News4JAX.

Columbia, S.C.-based Palmetto Surgery Center is now screening patients and guests for the novel coronavirus based on CDC recommendations, the ASC announced March 11.

Brian Chapman, managing partner and leader of the medical products and services practice at professional services firm ZS Associates, shared his predictions on the effect ASC growth will have on hospitals in 2020.

COVID-19 is affecting surgery centrers leading to closures and practice adjustments. Here are three ASC-centric updates on the virus:

Five must read articles for ASC leaders this week:

Winfield, Kan.-based William Newton Hospital canceled a surgery center opening ceremony scheduled for March 8 after the state confirmed its first case of COVID-19 and braced for a second, The Wichita Eagle reports.