SurgiStrategies Articles

ASCs Still Digesting New CfCs

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:05:25 PDT

An exception for patient notice as well as new interpretive guidelines for changing conditions of coverage (CfCs) for Medicare-approved ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are the latest developments that facilities must digest. On Nov. 18, 2008, the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System ...(1504 words)

Giving Back

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:09:15 PDT

On the surface, Kenny Spitler and Marcy Sasso would seem to be from two different mindsets, let alone two different parts of the country. But each has a passion for giving back to their communities — in two distinct ways — that can be infectious. And both stress the importance ...(1114 words)

Economic Survey Results are Gloomy, but a Silver Lining for ASCs is Their Flexibility

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:07:21 PDT

With the U.S. recession lingering for more than 20 months now, a little good news would be most welcome. While the results of a recent survey conducted by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)’s Institute for Quality Improvement add to the doom and gloom, there is a silver ...(1341 words)

Collaborating Physicians Take a '360-Degree Approach' to Wellness

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:06:51 PDT

The U.S. wellness industry has a conservative estimated worth at more than $200 billion, a niche that will grow increasingly important as a way to combat chronic disease. With a renewed focus on preventive care, the medical community has melded wellness with medicine and surgery to create comprehensive services for ...(1285 words)

Selecting a GPO

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:33:23 PDT

The average supply and equipment spent for a surgery center could be hundreds of thousands of dollars per operating room per year. When supplies and equipment comprise the majority of your surgery center’s budget, it makes sense to focus on cost management. One way to effectively accomplish this is through ...(540 words)

Managing Materials No Small Task

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:32:35 PDT

Materials management, in many ways, is under its share of scrutiny daily to keep operating rooms efficient, while keeping costs down. But the current situation in the United States has brought some challenging situations into the fray of the supply chain, particularly capital equipment. Knowing how to move forward and ...(1915 words)

Location, Location, Location is No Longer Enough — Planning Like the Big Guy

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:32:13 PDT

Surgeons become experts at making vital decisions quickly. They see a problem and, to the patient, they seem to instinctively respond. We as healthcare providers know that the doctor calls upon years of training and experience rather than relying solely on a “gut feeling” about the injury or illness to ...(1333 words)

Coding Breast Repair and Reconstruction Procedures

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:31:27 PDT

When coding a breast repair or reconstruction procedure, there are a few key documentation terms to keep in mind that will help determine the most accurate code for reimbursement. Mammoplasty is a surgical modification or repair of a breast. When an augmentation is performed, ascertain if a prosthetic implant was ...(660 words)

Three Simple Rules for Adopting an EHR System

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:28:55 PDT

Beyond the fact that regulatory requirements are starting to trend towards electronic health records (EHRs), there are many other reasons adopting an EHR system makes sense for an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). EHRs help lower facility and operational costs. In addition to eliminating the need for chart rooms and storage, ...(822 words)

The New World of Joint Ventures

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:34:59 PDT

More than ever, we are seeing the need for ambulatory surgery center (ASC) companies wanting to partner with physicians to initiate honest dialogue early on in the process of structuring a private placement offering. Such dialogue includes discussions about the goals and objectives of the offering, as well as the ...(1072 words)