COVER STORY


Protect Operational Efficiency in the New Normal


COVID-19 protocols could affect patient flow, timing BY ROBERT KURTZ


M


any factors contribute to the Buffalo Ambulatory Surgery


Center’s success, but few might be more important than ensuring opera- tional efficiency, says Christina Nor- man, RN, administrator of the center in Cheektowaga, New York. “Our ability to provide our patients


and providers a space to complete sur- gery in a fast and efficient manner is what defines us,” she says. “Effi- ciency begins in the business office from time of booking and goes all the way through the patient’s experience in our PACU, with every person in our ASC playing an integral part.” As ASCs work to resume opera- tions during the COVID-19 pan- demic, the ability to operate at opti-


10 ASC FOCUS AUGUST 2020| ascfocus.org


mal efficiency has taken on greater significance, says Kylie


while eliminating wasteful steps can mean the difference between needing to extend operating hours to include evenings and/or weekends and oper- ating as close to original business hours as possible.”


Kaczor,


RN, CASC, senior vice president of clinical and regulatory affairs for National Medical Billing Services in St. Louis, Missouri. She notes that updated guidelines, including implementation of social distanc- ing practices, are affecting patient flow and preoperative and postoper- ative patient care area preparedness, among other processes. “ASCs will need a heightened focus on operational efficiency to make up for the additional time required for properly distancing patients and following new guid- ance,” Kaczor says. “An ASC’s abil- ity to adapt to these new protocols


Service Delivery During COVID-19 Since a return to previous practices is not likely for the foreseeable future, ASCs will need to remain flexible in their efforts to optimize operational efficiency, says Cindy Beauvais, RN, principal consultant of Ambula- tory Surgery Consulting Partners in Savannah, Georgia. “The plan ASCs follow for management through COVID-19 should address how to effectively resume and increase operations. In addition, ASCs should develop processes and maintain the ability to reduce and adjust opera- tions in the event of a staffing short- age or surge of new cases of the virus in their local area.”


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