FEATURE


physicians made it clear that they are on board with canceling cases due to safety concerns.” Advanced Surgical Care of Boerne has implemented a similar all-hands- on-deck approach, Tremper says. “Our clinical staff has always been about safety. Now safety is a common word for everybody—even my busi- ness office manager and front office personnel—and an integral part of their jobs. And they have embraced this responsibility, stepping up to do whatever is necessary.” This includes following new cleaning and disinfec- tion processes, researching safety rec- ommendations and discussing poten- tial scenarios the ASC might face during the pandemic, such as positive tests for patients or staff members. SCA’s senior leadership team was instrumental to the organization's success, serving as the “beacon” as it navigated unchartered waters, Sin- sel says. “Throughout the pandemic, ASCs have been on a learning jour- ney,” she says. “They have had to overcome obstacles and challenges in a short timeframe, continually modifying their current state to com- ply with evolving regulatory changes and recommendations in response to new scientific evidence.” In addition, unlike other disasters, implications associated with COVID-19 are fore- casted to linger, requiring a tailored focus on staffing and organization safety cultures. “We must recognize and under- stand that our challenges have broad- ened, and we are still learning,” she says. “We have been successful adapt- ing to ever-changing environments thus far because of our ability to be flexible and open-minded when feasi- ble. Additionally, we have to remind ourselves that we are in unchartered territory and show grace for one another as we work diligently to fig- ure it all out.”


The pandemic represents a new level of emergency preparedness that


cerns without hesitation. “One of the hardest things to get across to staff is the need to let me know when there is a problem or they think there is a problem. Near-misses must be reported. The majority of the time the causes of near-misses are not someone doing something wrong but rather a breakdown in process that can be addressed.”


We have to remind ourselves that we are in unchartered territory and show grace for one another as we work diligently to figure it all out.”


—Lisa Sinsel, RN, Surgical Care Affiliates


requires ongoing attention to identify ways to improve safety, Sinsel says. Moving forward, she advises ASCs to review their environment of care and emergency preparedness pro- grams while conducting hazardous vulnerability analyses to help ensure they capture areas where they are most vulnerable and then take appro- priate actions to mitigate those risks. At Advanced Surgical Care of


Boerne, Tremper says she empha- sizes the importance of always fol- lowing recommended practices and encourages staff to share their con-


Confidence in What Works In the beginning of the pandemic, Watkins says fear helped hit home the elevated need for safety. In his ASC’s community, which he says has not been ravaged by the novel coronavi- rus, that fear has declined. “It would be understandable for people to start letting their guard down. But I believe the staff here have become more com- fortable with the changes and con- tinue to uphold our high standards.” Sinsel recognizes that the longer the pandemic goes on, the more chal- lenging it might be to remain focused. “It is important to remain committed to reviewing evolving guidance and staying appraised of developments to avoid potential complacency as the pandemic evolves.” One of the few silver linings of the pandemic for Tremper is her ASC's enhanced culture of safety. “My staff is much more aware of our daily safety practices. Everyone plays a part, no matter their job description. I cannot be sad about that.” Watkins says he is confident that the


unwavering commitment to a culture of safety will help his ASC success- fully navigate the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. “We have seasoned staff committed to doing what is right for patients and one another. With this mentality and strong leadership, we will maintain safety and help ensure the health department does not trace any cases back to us. As long as we can do so, we can continue to serve our patients and get them the treat- ments they need.”


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