Raghu Reddy, executive administrator of SurgCenter of Western Maryland in Cumberland, has taken an innovative approach to planning for the future.
In addition to optimizing the revenue cycle and existing payer contracts, the ASC aims to connect with more business leaders to contact directly. Here, he discusses the ASC's strategy for the next year.
Question: What initiative are you most proud of at your ASC over the past 12 to 18 months?
Raghu Reddy: We have initiated a dialogue with the only hospital in our county for a partnership opportunity. We are also speaking with local employers who would like to contract directly with our surgery center to reduce their healthcare spending. In our rural demographic, there are not many choices and have introduced specialties such as plastic surgery, ophthalmology, spine etc. We have been performing total joint replacements since 2013.
Q: How do you make sure your team is motivated for the continued success and growth of the ASC?
RR: We believe in hiring the right individuals who fit our culture and mindset. We treat everyone with respect and courtesy while appreciating their talents, the skill set they bring to the table. We are very transparent and believe in open and honest communications regarding the expectations we have from each other. Our culture dictates that we support each other during difficult days and collaborate to excel in what we do. As an administrator, I strongly believe in servant leadership and am available for my staff to discuss issues or feedback without any hesitation.
We do several informal team events throughout the year and strive for an environment where everyone has a sense of belonging. This culture shows in patient care, and our staff gets compliments from the patients and their families daily.
Q: What are your best practices for meeting revenue cycle benchmarks?
RR: We ensure that dictations are complete within 24 hours of case date and the coding and billing within 48 to 72 hours. We address all claim denials and rejections promptly and aggressively follow up with the payers to ensure we meet the goals of our collections. We partner with our billing team to ensure all the internal benchmarks and audits are reviewed, and the feedback is implemented right away. We have a seamless communication process with the billing team to ensure our revenue cycle management stays smooth. We also monitor our contracts and ensure that payer is following the negotiated fee schedules and timelines.
Q: Where do you see your center growing in the second half of 2019 and beyond?
RR: Once the partnership with the local hospital is complete, we plan to expand and grow our ASC with other specialties and bring more cases to the center. We also have plans for plant expansion to accommodate the growth plan.
To participate in future Becker's thought leadership Q&As, contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com
Register for the 26th Annual Becker's ASC Review Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, Oct. 24-26 in Chicago, here.