Scott Edwards, administrator of North Mississippi Ambulatory Surgery Center in Tupelo, discusses why the surgery center is focusing on its orthopedic service line.
Question: How should administrators evaluate which procedures to add to an ASC and what metrics should they employ?
Scott Edwards: The first thing we look at is if the procedure is covered by Medicare. After looking at the reimbursement side, we look at whether it will require more capital outlay or whether we have the infrastructure in place [to accommodate the procedure].
You should also look at your capacity and if the procedure will require more space.
Q: What service lines are you adding or focusing on at this point in time?
SE: We have increased the volume of our orthopedic procedures; specifically shoulder cases. We have been fortunate to have been able to add two or three younger orthopedic surgeons in the last few years. Obviously from a national perspective, the revenue is good from orthopedic procedures, which has allowed us to focus on making sure we have a strong mix of orthopedic surgeons and case volume.
Learn more from Mr. Edwards at the 24th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs in October 2017. Click here for more information.