MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Patient Care and the ASC Value Proposition E


xceptional patient care and safety have always been the top priorities for ASCs, and that has not changed since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. As our centers continue to recover from the effects of the limitations on elec-


tive surgery, state shutdowns and stay-at-home orders imposed in response to the pandemic, we have navigated to a new normal. Exceptional patient care, today, starts with educating the physician offices that initiate the orders, communi- cate patient data and begin sharing information with patients about the testing and anesthesia guidelines each center has in place. This interaction initiates the ASC–patient interactions where trust and education begin. It is essential that an ASC’s initial communications with a patient are guided with the individual patient in mind and take into account their support system and understanding of the steps to surgery and post-operative care. Think of all the ways your center engages with a patient prior to the date of surgery. Your team coordinates testing, implants, specialty items, staffing, equipment, coor- dination of services, scheduling, insurance verification and patient assessment testing, just to name a few. Your interdisciplinary team works together to deliver the end result: safe ambulatory surgery. When you combine the processes and caring staff at your ASC with your ability to provide top-quality services more efficiently and at lower costs, you create value. ASCs collectively deliver savings to governmental and private pay- ers across the spectrum with lower costs. For example, on average, Medicare saves $2.3 billion annually when surgical procedures are performed at ASCs instead of hospital outpatient departments. When ASCs provide care to injured workers and their families, they reduce costs to employers as well. Bundled pricing and performance-based outcomes continue to grow in the


ASC environment, driving increased savings across the continuum. As more complex cases migrate into the ASC environment, specialties expand, tech- nology advances and minimally invasive procedures grow, it is fair to say that ASC’s are winning the value battle.


ASCA is here to assist you as the industry continues to navigate this success and the constant state of change that defines our healthcare delivery system. Please visit ASCA’s website, use the tools and resources you find there and let us know what else we can do to help you do your job better.


Seeking Authors


ASC Focus is seeking the contribution of articles by guest authors. If you have the expertise and time to write for us, we’d be interested in hearing from you.


Please see our editorial guidelines at ascfocus.org/about and submit your story proposal to smukerji@ascassociation.org.


6 ASC FOCUS AUGUST 2020| ascfocus.org


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


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