November 2017 Issue of Beckers ASC Review
ON THE COVER
Investors Turn to ASCs, Urgent Care Centers as Hospital Demand Declines
Hospitals, insurers and employers looking to thrive in the competitive healthcare landscape are eyeing surgery centers and urgent care centers as a means to provide quality care at a reduced cost, according to Fox Business. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
39% of ASCs are 15+ Years Old, 92% Have Physician Ownership: 14 Statistics on ASCs
Most ASCs have at least partial physician ownership and are 10 or more years old, according to new data from ASCA. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Which ASC Company has Grown the Most in 2017?
ASC companies are continuing to expand, acquiring centers and partnering with physicians on de novo ASCs. Here is a snapshot of company growth over the past eight months for seven ASC companies. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
ASC MANAGEMENT
56 Statistics on ASC Operating Expense per Case
VMG Health released the VMG Health’s Multi-Specialty ASC Intellimarker 2017, including statistics on ASC operating expenses per case. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-turnarounds-ideas-to-improve-performance/56-statistics-on-asc-operating-expenses-per-case.html
Lahey Health Lays Off 75 Employees as ASC Visits Plummet 4.5%
To truncate expenses, Burlington, Mass.-based Lahey Health is laying off nearly 75 employees, according to America Closed. CLICK
HERE TO READ MORE….
Campbell Clinic has Sights Set on ASC in $30M Expansion Plans
Germantown, Tenn.-based Campbell Clinic is planning a 120,000-square-foot expansion, according to Commercial Appeal. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
3 Biggest Opportunities for ASCs Today, 4 Healthcare Reforms That Will Affect ASCs Most in the Future
Scott Kulstad, executive director of musculoskeletal services at Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services and a member of the board of directors for Minneapolis-based Ridges Surgery Center and Fairview Maple Grove (Minn.) Surgery Center, discusses how to approach strategic planning in today’s volatile healthcare environment and what to expect in the future. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
39% of ASCs are 15+ Years Old, 92% Have Physician Ownership: 14 Statistics on ASCs
Most ASCs have at least partial physician ownership and are 10 or more years old, according to new data from ASCA. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
5 Statistics on Ophthalmology Net Revenue per Case at Multispecialty ASCs
VMG Health’s 2017 Intellimarker Multi-Specialty ASC Study included statistics on ASC revenue per case for ophthalmology. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
How the CMS Final Rule will Affect Orthopedic ASCs: 5 Key Notes
On Nov. 2, CMS received the 2018 final payment rule, providing a 1.2 percent increase in ASC reimbursement next year. The final rule also addressed several issues pertaining to orthopedic procedures in ASCs, including total joint replacements and spine procedures. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
71% of ASC Staff Approve of EHRs: 6 Survey Findings
The majority of ASC staff view EHRs positively, a SelectHub survey found, according to healthcare informatics. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Investors Turn to ASCs, Urgent Care Centers as Hospital Demand Declines
Hospitals, insurers and employers looking to thrive in the competitive healthcare landscape are eyeing surgery centers and urgent care centers as a means to provide quality care at a reduced cost, according to Fox Business. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Former Virginia Eye Center Administrator Indicted in Embezzlement Case
A federal grand jury indicted Williamsburg, Va.-based Cullom Eye and Laser Center’s former administrator for alleged embezzlement, according to the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Hiring Effectively in a Competitive Marketplace — How This Wisconsin ASC Administrator Finds Viable Candidates
An ASC’s long-term success is often contingent on the practice’s ability to recruit and maintain dedicated staff members. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Tennessee ASC Performs 1st Implantable Eye Telescope Procedure in Cataract Patient
Memphis, Tenn.-based Ridge Lake Ambulatory Surgery Center surgeon Subba Gollamudi, MD, completed the first eye telescope implant procedure in a trial for patients who underwent cataract surgery, the Memphis Business Journal reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Recruiting Staff in a Marketplace With 2 Large Hospital Systems: Milwaukee ASC Executive Director Fawn Esser Lipp Weighs In
To move forward in the competitive healthcare marketplace, equipping an ASC with the right staff is imperative. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
10 Statistics on RN Compensation by Practice Setting
Registered nurses practicing in occupational health or hospitals generated the highest earnings across all practice settings in 2016, according to the “Medscape RN/LPN Compensation Report 2017.” CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
4 Opportunities in Outpatient Spine from Dr. Frank Phillips
Frank Phillips, MD, co-founder of the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Rush in Chicago, lists four big opportunities in spine. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
28 Statistics on ASC Drug, Medical Supply Expense
ASCs typically spend the most on staffing and supplies, which make up around half of expenses in the typical ASC, according to VMG Health’s Multi-Specialty ASC Intellimarker 2017. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Trump’s Tax Reform Plan: 7 Key Notes
President Donald Trump unveiled his administration’s tax reform proposal in late September, and as Congress transitions its attention from healthcare legislation to tax reform, Becker’s Hospital Review takes a look at the details of President Trump’s plan. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
First Hill Surgery Center Adds TJR—5 Insights
Seattle-based First Hill Surgery Center began performing total hip, knee and shoulder joint replacement surgeries. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
JOINT VENTURES
Which ASC Company has Grown the Most in 2017?
ASC companies are continuing to expand, acquiring centers and partnering with physicians on de novo ASCs. Here is a snapshot of company growth over the past eight months for seven ASC companies. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
7 Hospitals, Health Systems Opening or Planning ASCs
Here are seven hospitals and health systems that have opened or announced plans for ASCs in August. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Regent Surgical Health Promotes Bob Ryan to COO: 5 Things to Know
Regent Surgical Health named Bob Ryan COO. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Montana Health System Partners with USPI on ASC: 5 Key Points
Bozeman (Mont.) Health is opening a new $20 million clinic, according to Bozeman Daily Chronicle. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
4 Recent ASC Acquisitions, Partnerships
Here are four recent ASC acquisitions and partnerships announced in September 2017. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
20 States with the Most ASCs
Avanza Healthcare Strategies developed an interactive map showcasing the number of Medicare-certified ASCs in each state. Here are the 20 states with the most ASCs, as of 2016. . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
20 States with the Fewest ASCs
Avanza Healthcare Strategies developed an interactive map showcasing the number of Medicare-certified ASCs in each state. Here are the 20 states with the fewest ASCs, as of 2016. . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
ORTHOPEDICS
Medtronic to Study Infuse in PLF, TLIF Spine Surgeries in New Pilot Trials
Medtronic launched new long-term clinical studies to collect prospective data on posterolateral fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion procedures using Infuse Bone Graft. . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Physicians Rank Top 10 Hospitals for Hip Replacements — Hospital for Special Surgery No. 1
In a recent Medscape report, physicians ranked the top 10 hospitals for hip replacement. Here are the top 10 hospitals. . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Dr. Alexander Vaccaro: 2 Big Concerns and the Best Opportunity for Spine Surgeons in the Future
As president of Philadelphia-based Rothman Institute, Alexander Vaccaro, MD, is responsible for a network of practices including around 200 physicians and surgeons providing orthopedic and spine care. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Novant Health to Convert Old Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital Into ASC in $67M Renovation: 5 Key Notes
Novant Health is close to opening a $67 million orthopedic hospital in Charlotte, N.C., that includes a built-in ASC, according to the Charlotte Business Journal. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Fired Swedish Health Neurosurgeon Receives $17.5M Award in Wrongful Termination Suit
An arbitrator awarded former Seattle-based Swedish Health neurosurgeon David Newell, MD, millions of dollars in connection with his firing last year, which he contends was due to questioning the practices of a colleague; the health system disagrees, according to the Seattle Times. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
91.6% of Spine Surgeons Have Financial Ties to Industry: 5 Things to Know
A new study published in Spine examined the relationship between spine surgeons and industry. . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
HCA Reports $140M Hit from Hurricanes, Expects 31% Drop in Q3 Profit
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare ended the third quarter of 2017 with net income of $426 million, down 31 percent from $618 million in the same period of the year prior, according to a preliminary earnings statement released Wednesday. CLICK HERE TO READ
The Anterior Hip Replacement Approach is Gaining Steam — Why That’s Good News for the ASC
Senior Director of U.S. Joint Reconstruction and Outpatient Marketing at DePuy Synthes Scott Zellner discusses the evolution of the Anterior Approach to total hip replacement and how the move to value-based care will propel future growth. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
GASTROENTEROLOGY
Florida Gastroenterologist Innocent in ‘Rushed Colonoscopy’ Case
A Florida Circuit Court found gastroenterologist David Vastola, DO, of a Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., innocent after a patient claimed he allegedly rushed a colonoscopy missing his developing colon cancer, the Daily Business Review reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Inner Damage to Endoscopes Could Jeopardize Cleanliness
Damage to the instrument channels of endoscopes could jeopardize device cleanliness, according to a study presented at Digestive Disease Week 2017, May 6-9 in Chicago, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy News reports. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Massachusetts Medical Center Removing GI Endoscopy Unit from ASC
Pittsfield, Mass.-based Berkshire Medical Center is moving its endoscopy unit from Pittsfield-based Crane Center for Ambulatory Surgery into the main hospital, The Berkshire Eagle reports. . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
QUALITY & ACCREDITATION
Which 10 US States Have the Most Overworked Nurses?
There is a shortage of nurses throughout the U.S., with Hawaii having the fewest nurses per 1,000 residents. . CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
6 Key Findings on Healthcare-Acquired Infections at New Hampshire ASCs
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ public health services division released a report detailing the number of healthcare-acquired infections at New Hampshire ASCs in 2016. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
Brigham and Women’s Mandatory Flu Shot Policy Prompts Nursing Suit
A union representing nurses at Boston-based Brigham and Women’s Hospital is standing up against the facility’s new policy mandating flu vaccines for employees, reports The Boston Globe. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
CODING & BILLING
Common ASC Coding Errors: Orthopedics, Gastroenterology and Ophthalmology
There are complex areas of coding in all ASC specialties which may lead to errors. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Why Revenue Cycle Needs Millennials — and, Like, Now
Millennials, or individuals born roughly between 1980 and 2000, now number 73 million in the United States, according to the polling firm Gallup. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE…..
Blue Cross Blue Shield’s MA Plans to Cover Outpatient Surgery for South Carolina Residents
Starting this fall, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina will sell Medicare Advantage plans in 23 state counties during open enrollment, according to Post and Courier. CLICK HEAR TO READ MORE…..
CMS to Terminate Hull Eye Surgery and Laser Center’s Medicare Benefits
CMS will involuntarily terminate its Medicare provider agreement with Lancaster, Calif.-based Hull Eye Surgery and Laser Center at 12:01 a.m., Oct. 12. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
The 10 Largest Health Insurance Companies by Membership
Insider Monkey compiled the 10 largest U.S. health insurance companies by total enrollees. Here are the top 10 from most members to fewest members. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE….
