Leaders in the ASC industry face challenges and demands that can be vastly different from their counterparts in hospitals, health systems and other inpatient settings.
Three ASC leaders recently joined Becker’s to discuss how ASC leadership differs from that in other healthcare settings.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length:
Dale Bachwhich, MD. Former Chief Medical Officer and Founder of Dark Canyon Laboratories (Rapid City, S.D.): ASCs are in a unique position in the healthcare ecosystem in that they are still reimbursed by third-party payers at a favorable rate — reimbursement is still greater than the cost of providing high-quality service — yet they are physician-run. All too often, most physicians are cut out of … large, integrated systems or are expected to lead and be accountable for outpatient practices where reimbursement is woefully inadequate for the service provided, especially if you take professional pride in your work.
Raymond Sainz. Administrator, Five Points Surgery Center (Greenfield, Ind.): Through short stints in hospitals and clinics, I’ve seen firsthand the differences in [hospital and health system] leadership as compared to an ASC administrator. In a hospital leadership role, you are overseeing departments and managers from “30,000 feet.” In an ASC, the administrators role is feet on the ground, frontline daily involvement of overall operations. You have direct responsibility for everything from the front office, [summary plan description], [environmental services], supplies, and even though nonclinical, still very much involved with patient safety and quality. The administrator in an ASC is also directly involved with accreditation standards and life safety of your ASC. In an ASC, your focus is solely on one aspect of a hospital, which is the operating and procedure rooms as compared to that of a hospital administrator which is more global in focus. Your interactions and knowledge of the professional roles within an ASC is much more intimate and complex than those of leadership in a regular clinic or hospital setting. I have always been very fortunate to be able to surround myself with strong and knowledgeable ASC clinical and business office professionals. Lisa York, MSN. Executive Director of Hunterdon Center for Surgery (Flemington, N.J.): Historically, I would say that the autonomy of an ASC leader was what made the job attractive and those that took these jobs embraced the autonomy of the job and the wearing of many, many hats, from facilities management to budget, to all other aspects of the business. This changes a bit when there is added oversight by hospital or management partners. I think ASC leaders are independent thinkers, bold action takers and fully accountable and responsible personality types.
