Adding new procedures can yield great success for surgery centers and bolster their bottom line. However, there are several considerations administrators should weigh before taking on a new service line. JoAnn Vecchio, CEO and administrator of Amherst-based Ambulatory Surgery Center of Western New York, discusses the six metrics the ASC uses before adding a new procedure to its repertoire of offerings.
Note: This conversation was lightly edited for style and clarity.
Question: What metrics does ASC of Western New York employ to see if procedures would be a good fit for your ASC?
JoAnn Vecchio: The metrics we apply are:
• Is the procedure currently on our fee schedules?
• What is the reimbursement versus the cost of the case?
• What is the risk associated with the case?
• Is the surgeon proficient in the procedure?
• Where is [the surgeon] currently performing these cases? Is it new revenue?
• If [we can expect] new revenue, what is the total projected final revenue?
Q: What are some procedures your ASC has added within the last year or two that has yielded financial gains? What procedures will you consider moving forward?
JV: Our surgery center has recently added unicompartmental knees and total joints. These are safe and very profitable. We have also added pain management injections with fluoroscopy that are very profitable. [In the future], we are looking toward adding total joints and spine.
Learn more from Ms. Vecchio at the 24th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs in October 2017. Click here for more information.