Lana Gladhill, director of Robinwood, attributes the center’s longevity and ability to tackle so many cases to a number of factors including:
- Cross-training of staff so that your staffing costs are minimized and productivity is maximized.
- Truly knowing the cost of your procedures so that contract negotiations can address necessary carve outs.
- Looking at additional ancillary type staff that could be major contributors instead of hiring expensive RNs. “Look at tasks the RNs perform and ask if you have to be a nurse to do it,” says Ms. Gladhill. “(Tasks like) getting patients up, getting them dressed, nourishment, removing IVs, taking vital signs, etc.” She says you don’t have to use RNs for the endoscopy room as a CRNA allows for the compliance needed for an RN overseeing a case. To minimize cost, management must be creative without taking their eyes off of quality and compliance.
While these aspects have certainly contributed the financial stability of the ASC, Ms. Gladhill says the true secret for success at Robinwood to “having the best staff in the world who are 100 percent committed to customer service.”
The ASC is associated with Antietam Health and is a division of Washington County Health System. It currently has 23 active physician investors and is likely to grow that number soon.
Learn more about Robinwood Surgery Center.
