AS I SEE IT
From annual association meetings to continuing education courses and product introductions, webinars are the new reality and our respondents have adapted well. Anecdotally, OOSS members share that virtual meetings are productive, yet they look forward to being together again in 2021. The biggest challenge identified by
the survey participants was meeting post-COVID-19 local, state and fed- eral guidelines. Satisfying staff con- cerns about their safety upon return to the ASC was equally challenging. Maria Tietjen, RN, executive vice president of nursing and clinical ser- vices at American Surgisite Centers in East Brunswick, New Jersey, stated that communication, training and tools such as checklists helped the clinical staff prepare for reopening. “We needed to balance running the ASC while compassionately respond- ing to our staff’s personal concerns, acknowledging their fears and chal- lenges with keeping their families safe and households running.”
Together, We Are Stronger OOSS members turned to OOSS, ASCA, the American Society of Cat- aract and Refractive Surgery and the
American Academy of Ophthalmol- ogy for communication and interpre- tation of federal guidelines and relief programs. OOSS members used the association’s resources to collaborate, share and learn together through vari- ous programs. Resources created and used to support members included webinars, virtual events, podcasts and OOSS Talk, a virtual forum where ophthalmic ASC surgeons, admin- istrators and nurses can share expe- riences, ask questions and discuss everything from technology to regu- lation clarifications.
Industry partners rallied with OOSS
members. As a result of ASC closures, our industry partners’ businesses paused too. Though their revenue was compro- mised, they worked with us to develop programs and contributed resources to support programs aimed at helping us weather the crisis together. ASC management companies fared well with members helping with com- munication of federal guidelines, resource planning, negotiating payment deferrals, contract extensions, acquisi- tion of personal protective equipment, sourcing of supplies and relief negotia- tion with suppliers.
10 ASC FOCUS OCTOBER 2020 |
ascfocus.org
Real and Consistent Concerns The crisis is effusive and volatile. ASC administrators, nurse directors and physician-owners who partici- pated in the survey expressed in their qualitative feedback that their biggest concerns are regarding how to safely accommodate patients while keeping their staff and themselves safe. They worry about surges potentially leading to another shutdown and the related financial impact to their ASCs. The concerns that my ophthalmic ASC colleagues share are real and con- sistent. We strive to keep our patients, our staff, ourselves and our families safe and healthy. We are hopeful that surges will be contained while medical treat- ments are ameliorated and vaccines are brought to the market. We work hard to mitigate the financial impact of the perfect storm of 2020, ironically pre- dicted to be the year of ophthalmology. In the end, we focus on the adaptability, resilience and innovation that have helped us solve challenges and then take these lessons forward into the future.
In the end, ASCs are back on track, rec- ognizing some fragility and a vulnera- bility highlighted by this crisis. We col- lectively committed to applying what we have learned to make our ASCs improve efficiencies while delivering the highest quality ophthalmic care in the safest environment and ultimately yielding the strongest outcomes. As OOSS president, I, along with the board and membership, look for- ward to growing our already strong relationship with ASCA. In turn, we invite ASCA members to explore OOSS as we work together to support and improve the ASC industry for the benefit of our patients.
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