FEATURE


by to visit them at a specific time to answer questions or address concerns is priceless,” she adds.


Projecting the Future


We need to move beyond ‘turf wars’ and the antiquated models of the past to sustain our quality health-care options in the future. This change will only occur if progressive leaders and regulators help spread this positive solution forward state by state.”


—Rebecca Craig, RN, CASC, ASCA Board


cost, but I am sure it would be sig- nificantly more than $1,500. It is a win-win-win situation: less cost for the payer, less cost for the patient and less hassle for the ASC in terms of coordinating quality postop care for the patient.”


Home Care The third option for post-acute care for ASCs is a home care arrangement. “You would have a visiting health care nurse come and check on the patient,” Ashby says. “Most doctors prefer not to do that because they want their


patients in some kind of a facility. In some cases, Medicare would cover home care visits.”


Craig says, “Usually, patients can rest and recuperate faster in their own, familiar setting. Having a health-care worker come to you not only keeps costs down but enables care to be catered and adapted for the individual patient’s needs.” A health care worker can also address concerns such as using stairs and other activities of daily living. “Patients usually have questions as soon as they get home, so knowing someone will be coming


18 ASC FOCUS MARCH 2018 | www.ascfocus.org


ASCs, especially multi-specialty and orthopedic/spine centers, should look into post-acute services because Medi- care/CMS will allow these procedures eventually to be done in surgery cen- ters, Ashby says. “It is another dynamic that we have to look at. There will be pushback from the hospital lobby but we will have to work through it. And at some point, that movement will come to bear with CMS, and it will allow surgery centers to keep patients for longer than 23 hours.” Craig says, “Transferring a patient to another location, such as the hos- pital, solely due to the time limita- tion attached to the ASC’s licensure instead of patient condition is waste- ful and irresponsible when other safe, cost-effective solutions are available. On a state and federal level, we can only meet the value proposition for post-acute care options with the help of our legislators and regulators. “Some facilities are looking to SNFs and medical hotels to offer post- acute care options for their patients,” she continues. “They are frustrated with the lack of progressive thinking on a state and federal level and are search- ing for safe options for their patients that will be cost-effective. Finding the option that best fits the needs of each patient is the key.”


The responsibility of finding that option remains a team effort depending on the individual patient’s needs, Craig says. “ASCs are known for being flex- ible and nimble at process improve- ment and ensuring our customers have what they need. Being prepared for all possible post-acute options to meet the value and quality equation will be par for the course.”


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