MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Rely on ASCA’s Virtual Education to Help You Navigate 2021 A


s the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out continues, we are regularly reminded that developing a vaccine and planning its distribution in less than a year


is uncharted territory for most government officials. As they try to decide on the most ethical order to vaccinate, the best shipping mechanisms and how to handle security concerns, this fluid situation and its impact on outpatient surgery means that ASCs are asking and being asked many questions. To provide answers, ASCA added a new webinar titled “Handling COVID-19


Employee Vaccinations, Updated Leave Entitlements and Addressing Violations of COVID-19 Protocols” to its 2021 webinar series. Three attorneys presented the live program back in February, discussing topics like the risks and rewards of mandatory versus voluntary vaccine policies, internal considerations for vaccine policies, updated quarantine guidelines and paid sick leave laws. The three also talked about how to address employee discipline issues surrounding COVID-19 policies, how to handle employees who refuse to get vaccinated and hypothetical quarantine. If you missed the live webinar, you can still listen to it using our new virtual


education platform, the ASCA Learning Hub. If you signed up for ASCA’s 2021 Webinar All-Access Pass, this program is already available to you there. If you don’t have an all-access pass, visit the Learning Hub to register for one or sign up for this single program. ASCA members qualify for discounts. ASCA’s webinar series is just one of the virtual education opportunities


available to you this year on the ASCA Learning Hub. Other content you can access on demand there includes all of the sessions from ASCA’s Infection Prevention for ASCs and Management Essentials for ASC Administrators virtual courses presented earlier this year. If you are looking for help in some operational area within your ASC, I encourage you to visit this new online portal. Also, if you are not already registered for the ASCA 2021 Virtual Conference,


I encourage you to visit the ASCA Learning Hub to sign up now. When the conference begins on Monday, April 26, you will return to that platform to access the gold-standard, ASC-specific education and top-quality speakers you rely on ASCA to deliver each year. You will also be able to visit the virtual expo hall and, later, access content on demand.


Until we can meet in person again, please stay safe, and if you are looking 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.


for updates on the changing pandemic scenario, please visit ASCA’s COVID-19 Resource Center.


Bill Prentice Chief Executive Officer


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ASC FOCUS APRIL 2021 | ascfocus.org


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