Surgistrategies Site Wide Content Feed

CMS Releases Memo Aimed at Helping Facilities Identify Quality Measures

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:45:00 GMT

PHILADELPHIA—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of Clinical Standards and Quality recently released a memo entitled, “Identifying Payment Year (PY) 2014 End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Quality Incentive Program (QIP) Measures Applicable to Your Facility; Actions Required by Your Facility to Ensure Correct Scoring;

Spine Surgeon Dr. Kenneth Pettine to Co-Host Meeting on Ambulatory Spine Surgery

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Leading spine surgeons and ambulatory surgery center experts will gather in Dallas in October for a unique symposium.

Healthcare Reform – What’s Next in Your State, and Are You Ready for It?

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:19:00 GMT

In this age of healthcare reform, the failing Medicare system and frequently changing reimbursement, ambulatory surgery centers must stay on top of pending state legislative and regulatory changes.

Scheduling: A clinical director, administrator and physician/board member share their perspectives

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Of all the feats regularly accomplished at an ASC, scheduling has to be among the most amazing – especially when considering the number of players involved, as well as the inherent challenges.

The Curious State of EMRs in America: Nobody wants to be sold, but everyone wants to be helped

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

No single electronic medical record system can be defined as a uniform solution for all facilities; however, with proper evaluation and implementation, an ASC can find the EMR system that best equips it for the future.

CMS: ICD-10 2014 Date Official

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 19:08:00 GMT

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the final rule setting the ICD-10 implementation date as Oct. 1, 2014.

ASC In-Market Development: Driving Profits with the Right Procedure Mix

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Increasing the volume and revenue at an ASC are ongoing challenges that are often addressed with market-development efforts such as reviewing procedure mix, costs and physician recruitment.

National ASC Day Scheduled for Oct. 11, 2012

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:36:00 GMT

Outpatient surgical facilities have an excellent marketing opportunity at their fingertips with October's National ASC Day.

Supply Value Analysis – Drive Out Waste without Sacrificing Quality or Safety

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Implementing a supply value cost analysis committee to identify unwanted and unnecessary expenditures can greatly increase the bottom line of any size ASC.

Maximizing Reimbursement and Increasing Efficiency in the Revenue Cycle

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:51:00 GMT

With the cost of doing business steadily increasing, it is more important than ever to take advantage of every opportunity to maximize reimbursement and increase efficiency in your ASC’s revenue cycle.

Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center Receives APEX Quality Award for Second Consecutive Year

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:41:00 GMT

Based solely on patient feedback, an Iowa ASC received national recognition for excellence in patient satisfaction and delivery of care.

ASCA Representatives Meet with FDA Regarding Drug Shortages and Single-Dose Vials

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:19:00 GMT

At a recent meeting, the FDA had several suggestions for ASCs facing shortages of injectable anesthesia drugs and issues with single-use vials.

Employee Engagement: Paying Staff to Innovate

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:49:00 GMT

One surgical hospital increased employee engagement, provided value and recognition for staff, and saved money – all in response to what was seemingly a high-scoring annual employee survey.

Disaster Preparedness Survey Procedures

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 20:41:00 GMT

One method to help an ASC stay on top of a survey is by reviewing the ways surveyors are trained to examine the facility's emergency preparedness plan.

Government Accountability Office Studies Unsafe Injection Practices in ASCs

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:10:00 GMT

The government is reviewing a decade of CDC data on outbreaks of viral hepatitis associated with unsafe injection practices in the ASC setting.

Small-Scale Materials Management Success

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 16:33:00 GMT

A successful materials management program is a challenge on any scale. Making it work on a smaller scale takes time and dedication to the people, pricing and maintenance of the program.

NQF Endorses Measures in AMA Toolkit to Promote Effective Communication and Patient-Centered Care

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:10:00 GMT

The Communication Climate Assessment Toolkit is an organizational performance measurement resource that helps medical professionals better meet the needs of a diverse patient population.

Results vs. Relationships: Finding Your Balance on the Leadership Seesaw

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Leaders naturally tend to be stronger in one area – getting results or connecting with others; however, a great manager will develop both skill sets for more-balanced performance.

Practice-Management Training and Certification Available

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

From compliance and medical office accounting to HR, healthcare revenue cycle management, HIPAA and operational flow, practice management requires a diverse skill set. A new AAPC certification brings added professional acknowledgement to the role.

Managing Medical Equipment in the ASC Setting

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 21:25:00 GMT

Better managing mobile clinical assets – especially by reducing workflow inefficiencies – can help outpatient surgery centers achieve savings and better patient care.