At the 10th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in Chicago on June 14, Gregory P. DeConciliis shared five key steps to improve profits in ASCs.
1. Focus on your surgeons. Mr. DeConciliis suggested conducting utilization audits and case audits to ensure surgeons are maximizing their utilization. ASCs should also educate surgeons on the cost of supplies and equipment to help drive standardization. Mr. DeConciliis says one strategy is to create "Did you know?" messages for surgeons that include a comparison of costs for the same piece of equipment.
2. Analyze your equipment, implants and supplies. An ASC that needs new equipment should involve physicians and staff in the buying process, according to Mr. DeConciliis. He also suggested using a group purchasing organization to its fullest ability.
3. Get the most out of your staff. Making the most out of staff begins with the interview process. "Don't take the interview lightly," Mr. DeConciliis said. Administrators can help ensure applicants are skilled by using buzzwords and checking references, according to Mr. DeConciliis. To get the most out of existing staff, ASC administrators should involve employees in processes and decisions, as this empowers them and makes them more invested in the center. Rewarding staff, through methods such as profit sharing or "bonding" outings, can also help engage staff.
4. Boost your business office. One of the core functions in a business office is scheduling. Schedulers are "critical because they are your gatekeeper," Mr. DeConciliis said. ASCs can optimize scheduling by using a block system and scheduling bigger cases, like shoulder surgeries, in the morning, and smaller cases at the end of the day, as they can bounce to another room, according to Mr. DeConciliis.
5. Make anesthesia part of the team. Anesthesia providers are critical to an ASC and should be included in decision-making, according to Mr. DeConciliis. The anesthesiologists need to know the center's routine for cases and should know how to perform regional nerve blocks. Mr. DeConciliis said these blocks reduce length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit and increase patient satisfaction.
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1. Focus on your surgeons. Mr. DeConciliis suggested conducting utilization audits and case audits to ensure surgeons are maximizing their utilization. ASCs should also educate surgeons on the cost of supplies and equipment to help drive standardization. Mr. DeConciliis says one strategy is to create "Did you know?" messages for surgeons that include a comparison of costs for the same piece of equipment.
2. Analyze your equipment, implants and supplies. An ASC that needs new equipment should involve physicians and staff in the buying process, according to Mr. DeConciliis. He also suggested using a group purchasing organization to its fullest ability.
3. Get the most out of your staff. Making the most out of staff begins with the interview process. "Don't take the interview lightly," Mr. DeConciliis said. Administrators can help ensure applicants are skilled by using buzzwords and checking references, according to Mr. DeConciliis. To get the most out of existing staff, ASC administrators should involve employees in processes and decisions, as this empowers them and makes them more invested in the center. Rewarding staff, through methods such as profit sharing or "bonding" outings, can also help engage staff.
4. Boost your business office. One of the core functions in a business office is scheduling. Schedulers are "critical because they are your gatekeeper," Mr. DeConciliis said. ASCs can optimize scheduling by using a block system and scheduling bigger cases, like shoulder surgeries, in the morning, and smaller cases at the end of the day, as they can bounce to another room, according to Mr. DeConciliis.
5. Make anesthesia part of the team. Anesthesia providers are critical to an ASC and should be included in decision-making, according to Mr. DeConciliis. The anesthesiologists need to know the center's routine for cases and should know how to perform regional nerve blocks. Mr. DeConciliis said these blocks reduce length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit and increase patient satisfaction.
More Articles on the 10th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference:
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