1. See patients on short notice. “Patients in pain don’t want to wait around,” Ms. Wisniewski says. The ASC agrees to treat patients within 48-72 hours of referral. In addition to meeting patient needs, this policy also keeps referring physicians happy, because they would otherwise take frequent phone calls from patients in pain.
2. Keep your schedule open. Agreeing to see patients on short notice means leaving many blocks open just a few days into the future. “Looking in the schedule for next week and seeing a lot of openings would make a lot of people very nervous,” Ms. Wisniewski says. “But we know those openings are going to fill.” Schedules tend to be full on the day of the procedure.
3. Be nice to patients. “Our volume is high for an ASC our size because we have a reputation for being very nice,” Ms. Wisniewski says. Since people in pain are not always on their best behavior, being nice is all the more important for the staff. The center has high patient satisfaction ratings.
Read more practical guidance for ASCs:
– 5 Ways to Save Money on Supplies in a GI-Driven ASC
– 5 Best Practices to Improve Your ASC’s Revenue Cycle
– 5 Ways to Involve Physicians in Reducing Supply Costs
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.