MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Role of Technology in Your ASC U


se of technology has been increasing in surgery centers for many years. As we continue to meet the needs of surgeons and patients in the future, will technology be your friend or foe? As a Baby Boomer, I often ask my children to help with certain applica- tions and younger associates to assist in a technical format in the office. A lack of technological prowess might be generational, but we all need to get there. As technology advances further into the surgical environment, from robots to instrument tracking, how will you engage in the space? To me, technology falls into three categories; nice to have, need to have and nuts to have. There are certain aspects of technology that we need to have, like costing systems, reimbursement contract data bases, scheduling software and certain equipment. Those all have been around for a while. Now, with the arrival of new equipment and features, like video towers and 4K resolution, you need to determine if they enhance the surgical session and produce better clinical outcomes. Those answers often depend on who you ask. To answer that question wisely, you have to evaluate any new technology that you are considering with your surgeons and, then, quantify the results. Technology comes at a cost, of course, and the price often includes not just the capital expense but the disposables, supplies and upkeep that assure safe operation of the unit you are considering. Conversely, that cost can be justified by the time savings and improved safety the new technology offers, for example, reduced exposure to radiation in the surgical field. Technology is often designed with the next generation in process when you purchase the current generation. Will a software upgrade get you to the next level or will the unit need to be replaced or traded in? Will you need to purchase future supplies through a third party? It is not easy to answer those questions.


My advice is to approach technology with an open mind and consider all Seeking Authors


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the avenues that each purchase or lease might take you down. Investing the time it takes to make informed decisions about new technology up front will save you money in the end and help ensure that you are the master of the tech- nology in your center, not the other way around.


Larry Taylor, CASC President of ASCA’s Board of Directors


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ASC FOCUS MARCH 2019| ascfocus.org


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