ADVOCACY


Host Facility Tours Educate your lawmakers and advocate for ASCs BY ADAM PARKER


In 2019, ASCA members hosted facility tours for state and federal lawmak- ers


representing diverse constituencies across the


country. These tours helped shore up support for ASCs among longstanding legislators and introduced new state and federal officials to the ASC set- ting. Facility tours are one of the ASC community’s most effective advo- cacy tools, allowing ASCA members to show their lawmakers firsthand the benefits ASCs provide to their commu- nities, patients and Medicare. When an ASC hosts a facility tour for its members of Congress or state legislators, both ASCs and the law- makers


benefit. The tour gives the


ASC’s guests the opportunity to meet their constituents, visit a small business in their district and learn about the crucial issue of healthcare delivery from industry experts, all essential duties in their position. It helps ASCs build a relationship with their representatives. Hosting a facility for the first time


doesn’t have to be an intimidating expe- rience. ASCA is here to support our members before, during and after these tours. We can help issue invitations and organize tours for members of Congress and state legislators. We also can pro- vide information about best practices for leading a facility tour and support our member ASCs with crucial informa- tion about pertinent legislation, helpful graphics and statistics. ASCA appreci- ates its members who led facility tours in 2019 and had overwhelmingly positive experiences advocating for ASCs and their facilities. For more information, visit asc association.org/hostafacilitytour. Write Adam Parker with questions regard- ing ASCA’s facility tour program at aparker@ascasocciation.org.


16 ASC FOCUS APRIL 2020 | ascfocus.org


Testimonials Legislators are an integral part


of making sure ASCs are not for- gotten about when legislation is being proposed or passed that would directly affect our in- dustry. I am a firm believer you should be on a first name basis with your elected officials. The ASC tours are a great example of how to start the dialog with your legislators. I always tell them how many patients (constitutes) our facility serves on an annual basis. It helps them see the connection locally where their constituents are seeking healthcare. It helps them realize the need for and benefits of our industry.”


—Marietha Silvers, RN, CASC administrator, Surgery Center of Cleveland, Cleveland, Tennessee


ASC facility tours are essential to promote the ASC industry. The objective of these tours is to edu- cate our elected officials about ASCs and showcase our facilities as the high-quality low-cost pro- vider. We also focus on the access to care ASCs provide to the resi- dents of the community.”


—Annie Sariego, RN, CASC market president, Physicians Endoscopy, Jamison, Pennsylvania


The facility tour offered the op- portunity to educate our legislator on pricing differences between ASCs and HOPDs and the need to be consistent between the two. We demonstrated data such as patient satisfaction and infection rates that opened great conversa- tion between our legislator, our surgeons and the staff. The fact that surgeons took the time to be involved in the tour was crucial to having a successful tour.”


—Tracy Hoeft-Hoffman, RN CASC administrator, Heartland Surgery Center, Salina, Kansas


I highly recommend getting in-


volved with your legislators. Hav- ing a member of Congress tour your facility is not as intimidating as it might sound. ASCA has talk- ing points and will help guide you through the process. Just remem- ber we are the experts in our fields and need to help educate on the benefits and inequalities of surgery centers. If we don’t bring the benefits and concerns of surgery centers to their atten- tion, then no one will.”


—Sami Spencer, chief executive officer, Missoula Bone & Joint Surgery Center, Missoula, Montana


(Left to right) Annie Sariego, RN, CASC, market president at Physicians Endoscopy in Jamison, Pennsylvania; Marianne Catapano, RN, director of nursing at Advanced Endoscopy in New York, New York; Teresa Chaisson, director of clinical support at Physicians Endoscopy; Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13); and Steven Housberg, CASC, administrator at Advanced Endoscopy.


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