Ambulatory surgery centers are taking several steps to upgrade their facilities and compete with hospitals in their communities. Here are seven building trends for new and mature ASCs to bring them into the new millennium.
1. Latest technology implementation. One of the advantages surgery centers hold over hospitals is the ability to acquire the latest technology for their specialty. Much of this technology is focused on bringing new procedures into the outpatient setting that have proven success with minimally invasive techniques. The buildings also include new technology for infection control and energy savings.
"They are able to incorporate a lot more of the latest technology for energy and efficiency," says Andrew Quirk, national director of Skanska USA's healthcare Center of Excellence. "They become smart buildings. More cases are being performed in the outpatient setting, and that's a more efficient business model for providers to operate under as well."
On the patient side, there are several different technologies emerging to add entry points into personal healthcare. For example, some facilities are implementing kiosks where patients check in and complete their paperwork online before an appointment.
"In the airport, you can print or change tickets at their kiosk and it's convenient," says Mr. Quirk. "In healthcare, patients can do virtual check-ins from home and fill out the paperwork so they only have one form and they are ready to go. It's all about efficiency and the idea of kiosks is one of the biggest trends providers are seeing to enhance the patient experience. Especially now, people are growing up dealing with transactions online instead of waiting to fill out forms in person."
2. More comprehensive coverage. Surgery centers traditionally had an extreme focus on one specialty, but now they are expanding to perform more comprehensive services. They are increasingly including an education facility, rehabilitation, recuperation rooms and retail components.
"You are starting to see surgery centers strike deals with CVS or other pharmacies to bring medications onsite," says Mr. Quirk. "Wellness is also becoming a part of these facilities. Patients can come in and receive education, undergo rehabilitation or work out in the same facility."
The idea is that the patients can do everything at a single location. "The facility wants to educate people who are coming into a new healthcare environment, including the uninsured and the primary care physicians," says Mr. Quirk. "It's really all about the consumers."
3. Employee perks. New surgery centers are designing their buildings to accommodate for their loyal employees, whether it's more attractive staff room space or child care facilities onsite. They are looking to make the surgery center a "one-stop shop" for their employees as well as their patients.
"There are things on the table for outpatient centers on the staff side, such as dry cleaning, and others are contemplating day care services," says Mr. Quirk. "They want to make it an attractive space for their employees."
4. Enhanced patient flow. Freestanding surgery centers are constantly looking for ways to enhance patient flow and optimize efficiency. This occurs within the building and extends to the parking lot to ease a patient's point of entry.
"Patients go to a surgery center because they are looking for a better patient experience," says Marisa Manley, president of Healthcare Real Estate Advisors. "They want to be in and out in a shorter time and ASCs deal with a smaller patient volume, so patients aren't likely to be lost in the system. They also have an easier time parking, and sometimes that's a big deal."
Surgery centers also have an advantage because there is less bureaucracy involved, which gives the center a different feel. "If you are a physician group building a new facility, you can take workflow for the physicians and experience for the patients into account as you build the center," says Ms. Manley. "Whether it's a community center, high end specialty practice or another type of facility, you want to make sure you are planning the workflow so physicians can maximize turnover time and create constant scenes of success."
5. Energy efficiency. Both new and mature surgery centers are taking steps to save energy and become more sustainable. They are using energy efficient equipment, more windows to allow in natural light and efficient building designs. However, they are not necessarily achieving LEED certification for their efforts.
"I think it's a good sign that people are becoming smarter and living a more sustainable lifestyle, with elements of the smart building," says Mr. Quirk. "Taking advantage of natural daylight is becoming the norm in building design arenas, but the LEED certification costs money that facilities don't want to spend. They can still realize upsides to their margins without the designation."
New facilities are taking advantage of these things and building green from scratch; mature facilities are retrofitting with energy upgrades to make sure their generators and boilers are working at the most efficient level possible.
6. Friendly interior. On the inside, surgery centers want to look more like hotels than hospitals. They are becoming innovative with their entry way and waiting room space, which could be a key component in driving patient satisfaction in the future.
"I think you are going to see more outpatient facilities trending toward making a more inviting entryway for patients and families," says Mr. Quirk. "With their competition level increasing after healthcare reform, organizations will start building outpatient facilities, so existing facilities need to be competitive."
Facilities that aren't able to make major upgrades and do small things, like exchange flooring and wall materials so the first thing patients see when they come in makes them feel comfortable and welcome.
"When you go to the store or the hotel, you associate the brand with what you see," says Mr. Quirk. "That will come to the outpatient settings over the next few years. People will begin to choose one provider over another because it's more inviting and they receive good care. Competition will really drive that."
7. Rearranged waiting room area. Surgery centers are now rearranging the traditional open waiting room area so it feels more upscale and less institutional. There will be two or three small waiting rooms with coffee machines or an energy bar available.
"These things give the surgery center an almost spa feel," says Ms. Manley. "It's not costly but it's having that mindset. Depending on the nature of the facility, they may have several different waiting areas. They can be small with only six to eight seats."
The materials and decorations in the waiting room area are also being upgraded to reflect the more upscale feel, even if surgery centers aren't able to change their lay out.
"If your colors and materials are outdated, you can replace them with something that has a lighter, upgraded feel," says Ms. Manley "You should also make sure you have people in the front who are friendly and making patients feel welcome. The facility really becomes part of your brand."
More Articles on Surgery Centers:
Outlook on ASC Opportunities for CON States: Q&A With Dr. Edward Gronka of Fayette Plastic Surgery Center
5 Challenges Facing Ambulatory Surgery Center Administrators
10 Ways to Improve ASC Finances & Operations in 2013
1. Latest technology implementation. One of the advantages surgery centers hold over hospitals is the ability to acquire the latest technology for their specialty. Much of this technology is focused on bringing new procedures into the outpatient setting that have proven success with minimally invasive techniques. The buildings also include new technology for infection control and energy savings.
"They are able to incorporate a lot more of the latest technology for energy and efficiency," says Andrew Quirk, national director of Skanska USA's healthcare Center of Excellence. "They become smart buildings. More cases are being performed in the outpatient setting, and that's a more efficient business model for providers to operate under as well."On the patient side, there are several different technologies emerging to add entry points into personal healthcare. For example, some facilities are implementing kiosks where patients check in and complete their paperwork online before an appointment.
"In the airport, you can print or change tickets at their kiosk and it's convenient," says Mr. Quirk. "In healthcare, patients can do virtual check-ins from home and fill out the paperwork so they only have one form and they are ready to go. It's all about efficiency and the idea of kiosks is one of the biggest trends providers are seeing to enhance the patient experience. Especially now, people are growing up dealing with transactions online instead of waiting to fill out forms in person."
2. More comprehensive coverage. Surgery centers traditionally had an extreme focus on one specialty, but now they are expanding to perform more comprehensive services. They are increasingly including an education facility, rehabilitation, recuperation rooms and retail components.
"You are starting to see surgery centers strike deals with CVS or other pharmacies to bring medications onsite," says Mr. Quirk. "Wellness is also becoming a part of these facilities. Patients can come in and receive education, undergo rehabilitation or work out in the same facility."
The idea is that the patients can do everything at a single location. "The facility wants to educate people who are coming into a new healthcare environment, including the uninsured and the primary care physicians," says Mr. Quirk. "It's really all about the consumers."
3. Employee perks. New surgery centers are designing their buildings to accommodate for their loyal employees, whether it's more attractive staff room space or child care facilities onsite. They are looking to make the surgery center a "one-stop shop" for their employees as well as their patients.
"There are things on the table for outpatient centers on the staff side, such as dry cleaning, and others are contemplating day care services," says Mr. Quirk. "They want to make it an attractive space for their employees."
4. Enhanced patient flow. Freestanding surgery centers are constantly looking for ways to enhance patient flow and optimize efficiency. This occurs within the building and extends to the parking lot to ease a patient's point of entry.
"Patients go to a surgery center because they are looking for a better patient experience," says Marisa Manley, president of Healthcare Real Estate Advisors. "They want to be in and out in a shorter time and ASCs deal with a smaller patient volume, so patients aren't likely to be lost in the system. They also have an easier time parking, and sometimes that's a big deal."Surgery centers also have an advantage because there is less bureaucracy involved, which gives the center a different feel. "If you are a physician group building a new facility, you can take workflow for the physicians and experience for the patients into account as you build the center," says Ms. Manley. "Whether it's a community center, high end specialty practice or another type of facility, you want to make sure you are planning the workflow so physicians can maximize turnover time and create constant scenes of success."
5. Energy efficiency. Both new and mature surgery centers are taking steps to save energy and become more sustainable. They are using energy efficient equipment, more windows to allow in natural light and efficient building designs. However, they are not necessarily achieving LEED certification for their efforts.
"I think it's a good sign that people are becoming smarter and living a more sustainable lifestyle, with elements of the smart building," says Mr. Quirk. "Taking advantage of natural daylight is becoming the norm in building design arenas, but the LEED certification costs money that facilities don't want to spend. They can still realize upsides to their margins without the designation."
New facilities are taking advantage of these things and building green from scratch; mature facilities are retrofitting with energy upgrades to make sure their generators and boilers are working at the most efficient level possible.
6. Friendly interior. On the inside, surgery centers want to look more like hotels than hospitals. They are becoming innovative with their entry way and waiting room space, which could be a key component in driving patient satisfaction in the future.
"I think you are going to see more outpatient facilities trending toward making a more inviting entryway for patients and families," says Mr. Quirk. "With their competition level increasing after healthcare reform, organizations will start building outpatient facilities, so existing facilities need to be competitive."
Facilities that aren't able to make major upgrades and do small things, like exchange flooring and wall materials so the first thing patients see when they come in makes them feel comfortable and welcome.
"When you go to the store or the hotel, you associate the brand with what you see," says Mr. Quirk. "That will come to the outpatient settings over the next few years. People will begin to choose one provider over another because it's more inviting and they receive good care. Competition will really drive that."
7. Rearranged waiting room area. Surgery centers are now rearranging the traditional open waiting room area so it feels more upscale and less institutional. There will be two or three small waiting rooms with coffee machines or an energy bar available.
"These things give the surgery center an almost spa feel," says Ms. Manley. "It's not costly but it's having that mindset. Depending on the nature of the facility, they may have several different waiting areas. They can be small with only six to eight seats."
The materials and decorations in the waiting room area are also being upgraded to reflect the more upscale feel, even if surgery centers aren't able to change their lay out.
"If your colors and materials are outdated, you can replace them with something that has a lighter, upgraded feel," says Ms. Manley "You should also make sure you have people in the front who are friendly and making patients feel welcome. The facility really becomes part of your brand."
More Articles on Surgery Centers:
Outlook on ASC Opportunities for CON States: Q&A With Dr. Edward Gronka of Fayette Plastic Surgery Center
5 Challenges Facing Ambulatory Surgery Center Administrators
10 Ways to Improve ASC Finances & Operations in 2013