Jessica Mountjoy, BSN, RN, serves as administrator of the newly opened Northern Virginia Heart and Vascular Center.
She joined Becker’s to share insights and advice for healthcare leaders navigating the complex process of launching a cardiovascular ASC — especially in Virginia’s regulatory and clinical landscape.
Editor’s note: This interview was edited lightly for clarity and length.
Question: If you had to give advice to another administrator opening a cardiovascular ASC in Virginia, what would that advice be?
Jessica Mountjoy: First, make sure that when the center is being built, you have people on your design and architecture team who understand hospital and ASC life safety codes. That’s incredibly important. An ASC has very specific requirements that align more with hospital standards. Invest in an architect or design group that has experience with ASCs or hospitals. Other centers that used general construction teams ran into problems.
Second, even though we’re somewhat isolated, I’ve made an effort to network extensively. I’ve shared policies, ideas and lessons with other colleagues — and they’ve done the same. There’s no reason to keep this knowledge to yourself. It’s better when we share, because ultimately it benefits the community and the patients. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions.
I’ve also learned to take advantage of free services. The Virginia Department of Health, for example, is doing a four-hour inspection with us tomorrow, not required, but proactive. It gives us another set of eyes to identify areas for improvement before official surveyors arrive. The life safety team from the Department of Health also came and gave helpful feedback. My advice is: welcome feedback from everyone, even those you don’t expect to give it. You never know whose perspective will help you improve the patient experience.
Another one of my goals is to be as paperless as possible. We use an online platform for file storage that’s very user-friendly, and we invested in an EMR system that’s completely digital. All documentation is done in real time. If a patient needs to be transferred, we can immediately send their records.
All our checks — daily, weekly, monthly — are done online. We can export data, generate graphs and use it in meaningful ways. Going digital helps prevent lost paperwork, increases efficiency, and allows us to track and use data effectively. So, my other piece of advice is: use technology. Don’t be afraid to invest in digital tools. It’s worth it.
