Some cardiovascular procedures are gaining momentum in ASCs because of their minimally invasive advancements, according to Temitope Oluwayomi, a supply chain manager at Westchester, Ill.-based Regent Surgical Health.
ASCs considering taking on these higher acuity cases should consider three factors:
1. Feasibility. The viability of hosting cardiovascular procedures depends on the market. Certain states may have regulations dictating ASCs may only perform certain types of cases, and other markets might already be saturated with ASCs doing cardiovascular cases. Do extensive research to determine whether the investment will yield a worthwhile return.
2. Facilities. Cardiovascular cases require a larger operating room and specialized equipment. Centers would also need adequate monitoring and measuring of patient response. These elements could require an expansion costing up to $2 million dollars, Ms. Oluwayomi estimates
3. Reimbursement. Consider how centers are paid for cardiovascular cases. Some may receive higher reimbursement in the office-based lab setting, while others might have higher reimbursement in the ASC space. For this reason, Ms. Oluwayomi suggests registering as both.