1. Do not waste. Anticipating ahead of time when exactly supplies need to be ordered can be more beneficial to an ASC then simply ordering supplies upon realizing the need for it. Dr. Ott says his center particularly watches implants very closely.
“We’ve established what our basic needs are, and everyone is on the same page about not wasting,” Dr. Ott says. “The physicians are also consistent at what they do, so it makes it pretty easy.”
2. Control costs. AmSurg, a company that recently bought 50 percent of Gateway, closely monitors and assembles reports on all costs that come out of each facility it owns. Through AmSurg’s reports, Gateway is able to see data on implant expenses, cost for drugs, employee expenses and other cost measurements. One of the biggest expenses at any ASC is staffing costs, so closely monitoring work schedules and appointments have helped Gateway cut back on this expense.
“We don’t have extra bodies around,” Dr. Ott says. “Everyone’s working on such a schedule that our staffing costs are less than other ASCs relative to the number of cases. Our employees are paid well — we just don’t have extra workers when we don’t need them. Our man hours per case is half that of the center closest to us.”
3. Negotiate better contracts with payors. Gateway, with the help of Amsurg, is looking to gain more profitability by negotiating better coverage by payors.
“We had done all that in our own in the past,” Dr. Ott says. “We’re hoping AmSurg will help us on the revenue side and negotiating what will get reimbursed for any particular case.”
