MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT  A


s the world works out how to live with COVID-19, we, the healthcare providers and facilities, have an obligation to keep our patients informed, safe and educated. How do we accomplish these goals while maintaining social distancing and ensuring limited exposure for staff, providers and patients? Through technology. Traditionally, we have done preop consultation in person or over the phone,


but now it is done mostly over the phone or some other medium that allows us, and the patient, to remain safe. Now, more than ever, it is vitally important that patients understand ahead of time what we are planning for them on the day of their surgery. Fortunately, ASCs are optimized for that directive with the help of technology. Like most ASCs, our ASCs have limited visitors in this new normal of the


post-COVID times. Since we do not allow family members to wait in our centers anymore, we now text them and keep them informed about their patient’s status. We enter the patients’ family member’s cell number in our system and our text messaging program informs the family member in real time about each phase that the patient goes through. For instance, the system texts the family member “your family member is in surgery” when the patient enters the OR or “your family member is in recovery” when the patient enters PACU. This way the family member knows every step of the way where their patient is through the surgical day. We no longer have post-surgery, in-person consultations, instead, the physician now has a phone call with the family member after the procedure. The exception being if a patient is a minor or has a cognitive issue, we allow a parent or a guardian to be in the facility. We do not have anyone in the waiting room. While this change might be restrictive and cause anxiety for some patients


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ASC Focus   


Please see our editorial guidelines at  and submit your story proposal to 


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and family members, we have noticed a positive side. When family members were present in the facility, staff spent quite a bit of time managing their needs and questions. Not having family members in the facility now allows staff to focus on the patient solely. As a result, we have seen a three-point and seven- point increase in two of our facilities’ net promoter scores. With change, comes the need for extreme focus, and we have accomplished that via the use of technology and increased education and communication pre- and postop. Yes, COVID-19 has thrown down an immense challenge to us, but as we learn more about the virus and adapt, we continue to make the best of the situation and improve on our first priority: high-quality patient care. Stay safe and be well.


Michael J. Patterson, RN, CASC President of ASCA’s Board of Directors


ASC FOCUS OCTOBER 2020 | ascfocus.org


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