Administrators at the Bend (Ore.) Surgery Center and Bend, Ore.-based Cascades Surgicenter said they'll consider adding recovery rooms for keeping patients for up to two days, The Bulletin reports.
Here are five insights.
1. In early March, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill allowing ASCs to add extended stay recovery rooms. Current state law limits patient stays at ASCs to 24 hours from the time of admission.
2. Cascades Surgicenter has space that could be converted into recovery rooms after lawmakers finalize regulations. The center is co-owned by St. Charles Health System and The Center: Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Care and Research, both based in Bend.
3. Extended care centers, which are permitted in five other states, have been successful, according to Bend Surgery Center administrator Neal Maerki.
"We’ve seen this model work well in other states, and it would prevent some patients from having to stay overnight in the hospital. It will lighten the load for the hospital, especially if somebody has a little bit of pain and we need to keep them in house a little longer," Mr. Maerki told The Bulletin.
4. The state is finalizing regulations and working to establish a licensing process for extended stay centers. Oregon's Health Evidence Review Commission will determine which types of patients and procedures are appropriate for extended stay ASCs.
5. It could take about a year for regulators to work out other regulation details, meaning ASCs might be able to apply to add recovery rooms in the spring of 2019. Extended stay centers could be up-and-running in Oregon as early as 2020.