Bellingham, Wash.-based Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center Administrator Gary Richberg, RN, BSN, shared his insights on consolidation, competition and recruitment with Becker's ASC Review.
Mr. Richberg will share his expertise as a speaker at the Becker's ASC 26th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, Oct. 24-26, 2019 in Chicago. To learn more and register, click here. For more information about exhibitor and sponsor opportunities, contact Maura Jodoin at mjodoin@beckershealthcare.com.
Note: Responses have been lightly edited for style.
Question: Have you seen any consolidation in your market? How has this activity impacted the way your organization operates?
Gary Richberg: I have seen little consolidation in my market, but that's also dependent on the number of ASCs in the community and whether or not a merger makes good business sense. All potential partners don't make good partners, so ASCs must do their due diligence [to avoid] getting into a relationship that would be regrettable.
Q: What is your ASC doing to stay competitive?
GR: Our ASC is marketing the lower cost of care, lower infection rate and ease-of-access alternative to hospital outpatient surgical care. If patients realized the cost differences, ASC volumes would increase dramatically.
Q: What is your approach to physician and staff recruitment? In other words, what benefits and advantages do you offer to make physicians/staff choose your ASC over other facilities?
GR: For the surgeons, we offer excellent staff, state-of-the-art equipment [and] the ability to have a dialogue with administration. For the staff, we offer a workload that includes no nights or weekends, we offer competitive wages and benefits and we offer an environment that is employee-centric.
To participate in future Becker's Q&As, contact Angie Stewart at astewart@beckershealthcare.com.
For a deeper dive into the future of spine, attend the Becker's 17th Annual Future of Spine + Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC in Chicago, June 13-15, 2019. Click here to learn more and register.