AS I SEE IT
cases and higher expenses as a result of supplying teams with the appropri- ate PPE and taking other precautions, consider the impact on revenue. Take inventory of your operating costs to see where you can save.
Focus on Education and Outreach COVID-19 has changed our daily lives. The pandemic, however, does not pause heart attacks, prevent us from needing joints replaced or slow the growth of cancer. People still need care, and ASCs provide essential care that should not be delayed. Based on Amsurg data, nearly 200,000 people have missed their colo- noscopies in 2020. Of those missed procedures, we believe we would have removed polyps from 82,000 patients before they became cancerous and diag- nosed 850 patients with colorectal can-
cer. Make it a priority to educate both patients and referral sources, such as primary care physicians and retail and urgent care settings, about the impor- tance of certain procedures and how you can help patients maintain their health and quality of life.
ASCs play a vital role in the healthcare system, often serving as a high-quality, lower-cost alternative. Think of how you can partner with employers and health plans to help them manage care costs and offer more value to patients. There are ben- efits consultants, third party adminis- trators and supplemental surgery ben- efits providers who can help facilitate these relationships. It might require you to be more enterprising, but in the end, it is about working together to benefit the patient.
Operating during a pandemic requires an ASC to maintain the high- est quality and safety protocols while also thinking outside the box. A cen- ter needs to look at its patient popu- lation and the specialties it offers and work on educating patients and refer- ral sources about how it is operating in a safe, COVID-19-adjusted environ- ment. Our Amsurg centers have helped many patients during this difficult time. ASCs are a valuable resource and, as owners and operators, we must make sure our communities know we are there for them.
Mark Wainner is the ASCA Board treasurer and vice president of partnership growth at Amsurg in Nashville, Tennessee. Write him at
MWainner@amsurg.com.
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12 ASC FOCUS JANUARY 2021 |
ascfocus.org
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