In celebration of National ASC Month last month, Surgical Information Systems asked several ASC administrators and industry leaders to share their thoughts on how to raise awareness of ASCs
The project participants included Jon Van Valkenburg, the executive director of East Syracuse, N.Y.-based Upstate Orthopedics Ambulatory Surgery Center; Gabriel Figueroa, COO of New York City-based Gramercy Healthcare: Cheryl Carpenter, administrator of Orchard Park, N.Y.-based Sterling Surgical Center: Ann Geier, chief nursing officer of Surgical Information Systems; and Daren Smith, senior clinical solutions specialist of Surgical Information Systems.
Here are the insights they shared:
1. Mr. Figueroa said it's important to promote awareness of the role ASCs play in the healthcare system because the ASC model is "the wave of the future" due to lower infection rates and advances in technology and techniques. He said society still associates surgery will hospitals, so it's important ASCs continue to reach out to their communities about the services they provide.
2. Ms. Geier said ASCs need to be visible through having open houses, achieving media coverage and doing charity work.
3. Mr. Van Valkenburg said that through awareness raising efforts, communities will learn ASCs provide patients with surgery options that are both more convenient and affordable.