THE ASCA JOURNAL


NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 14 COMPARE AND IMPROVE


Using clinical benchmarking effectively means selecting meaningful benchmarks, making careful comparisons and taking action based on what you learn.


DEPARTMENTS 6 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO


8 ASCA 2014 Join ASCA in Nashville for news, networking and new ideas.


10 AS I SEE IT How to perform proper due diligence to ensure that you get the EMR system that best matches your needs.


17 ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT Ohio Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers Executive Director Randy Leffler encourages ASCs to communicate with their legislators.


28 DOING BUSINESS Know when to open a dialogue and when to stay the course in payment negotiations.


30 MEDICARE MONITOR Recommendations from MedPAC can affect your business operations and your bottom line.


32 ASCA NEWS Join ASCA’s final webinars of 2013.


33 WEB CRAWL Take advantage of ASCA’s Online Training Program.


ASC Focus is published by the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, 1012 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, phone: 703.836.8808, fax: 703.549.0976, www.ascassociation.org. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from ASCA is prohibited.


Chief Executive Officer: Bill Prentice; Director of Communications: Kay Tucker; Writer–Editor: Sahely Mukerji; Staff Writers: Kara Newbury, Joe Hornig and Rob Kurtz


Advertising inquiries should be addressed to Chris Schriever at 202.337.1897. Vol. 6, No. 11 | ISSN 1944-7280


FEATURES


18 ADDING HIP ARTHROSCOPY How to determine if this procedure is a good fit in your ASC.


20 2014 CODING ESSENTIALS Join ASCA in Las Vegas this January for critical ASC coding updates and a special full-day ICD-10-CM session.


22 DOCUMENTATION OVERLOAD? Technology can help.


24 SHOW THAT YOU CARE Best practices for patient follow-up.


26 RAISING THE BAR IN HEALTH CARE LAUNDRY STANDARDS Accredited commercial services can play an important role in infection prevention and patient and staff safety.


34 MANAGING PATIENT ALLERGIES Tips for protecting patients from adverse reactions to drugs, latex and more.


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