THE ASCA JOURNAL AUGUST 2020


10 PROTECT OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY IN THE


NEW NORMAL COVID-19 protocols could affect patient flow, timing


DEPARTMENTS 6 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT


8 AS I SEE IT Options for controlled drug registration


17 DOING BUSINESS Keys to case profitability


19 TECHNOLOGY Use texting to communicate money matters


21 REGULATORY REVIEW A look back at Congress’s work on the first four COVID-19 bills


23 ADVOCACY SPOTLIGHT ASCA honors Bill Wilcox, Randy Leffler with Nap Gary Award


24 ASCA NEWS Celebrate National ASC Month


25 WEB CRAWL Q2 Benchmarking reports available August 15


ASC Focus is published by the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, 1012 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, phone: 703.836.8808, fax: 703.549.0976, 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; Editor: Sahely Mukerji; Staff Writers: Kara Newbury, Alex Taira, Sharita Williams and Rob Kurtz.


Advertising inquiries should be addressed to Chris Schriever at 202.337.1897. Vol. 13, No. 7 | ISSN 1944-7280


FEATURES


12 ASCs ADJUST TO PANDEMIC PROTOCOLS Updated guidelines involve more focus on infection control


15 HELP PATIENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPENSES Educate up-front and be transparent about the bills they will receive


26 DELIVERING PERSONALIZED PATIENT COMMUNICATION Create a balance between in-person and electronic interaction


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