A strategic approach to adding staff and facility growth is crucial to thriving in the ASC setting, Michael Meneghini, MD, said.
Dr. Meneghini, founder and CEO of Indiana Orthopedic Institute in Noblesville, shared his advice with Becker’s.
Note: This response was lightly edited.
Question: Many ASC surgeons are also entrepreneurs. What have you learned about scaling your ASC model — and what mistakes would you caution others to avoid when expanding to multiple sites?
Dr. Michael Meneghini, MD: When scaling an ASC model, I’ve learned that you must focus on disciplined growth. Just like with any successful business, you must start small to avoid the temptation to overbuild or overstaff at the outset. If your long-term plan calls for four operating rooms, start with two and design your ASC with the flexibility to expand as your volume grows. The same principle applies to staffing.
I would recommend adding team members only when caseloads financially support it. I’ve learned there are a lot of costly “nice-to-haves” that don’t move the needle, so invest in technology that adds value, tools that improve productivity, reduce waste, enhance efficiency, or lower costs.
Avoid cutting corners on operating room size or sterile processing capacity; in orthopedics, large operating rooms capable of handling joint replacements and spine procedures are essential, and sterile processing is often the rate-limiting factor for throughput. Above all, have a solid business plan with committed surgeons and patients in place before opening, and begin contracting with payers as early as possible to ensure a smooth launch and sustainable growth.
