January/February 2011 Issue of Becker's ASC Review

10 Current Issues Affecting ASCs Nationwide

As ASCs enter a period of declining reimbursement, regulatory changes and new ownership models, state ASC associations are attempting to guide their members through budgetary crises and confusing legislation. Click to continue »

Outlook for ASCs in 2011

While we are optimistic regarding our industry over the long-term, from a near-term perspective, 2011 will be as challenging as 2010. Click to continue »

75 of the Best Gastroenterologists in America

The following gastroenterologists were selected based on awards they received from major organizations in the field, leadership in those organizations, work on GI journals and other publications or distinguished ... Click to continue »

Publisher’s Letter: November

Healthcare in 2010; ASC Consolidation; 9th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference Click to continue »

Letter to the Publisher: Hospital Power to Fire a Doctor At-Will

The following letter was sent by Nick C. Benton, MD, of Corvallis (Ore.) Clinic Ambulatory Surgery Center. Click to continue »

6 Things to Know About ASC Reprocessing

With supply costs as one of the top two expenses for surgery centers (staffing is the other), more and more ASCs are purchasing reprocessed devices, which help to reduce costs, among other benefits. Click to continue »

5 Critical Steps in the Reprocessing of Single-Use Devices

In 2000, the FDA began to view and regulate all companies reprocessing single-use medical devices in the same way it viewed and regulated original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Before returning reprocessed ... Click to continue »

Developing a Successful ASC Reprocessing Program

Dominica Pelshaw is materials manager for Bone and Joint Surgery Center of Novi (Mich.), a four-OR ASC with about 16 physician-users. Q: When did your ASC establish its reprocessing program and what ... Click to continue »

ASC Quality Collaboration Issues Free Single-Use Device Reprocessing Toolkit

The ASC Association has announced that a free toolkit on single-use device reprocessing is now available from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Quality Collaboration. There are two toolkits available: ... Click to continue »

Benchmarking Ambulatory Businesses

How do I measure up? Against what criteria? Who is the judge to say that we meet or not meet standards? Who establishes the standards? These are common questions when the topic of benchmarking is raised ... Click to continue »

5 Physician Statistics ASCs Should Track and Benchmark

Brian Brown, regional vice president of operations of Meridian Surgical Partners, identifies five ASC physician statistics to track and benchmark and shares some insight into what surgery centers should ... Click to continue »

5 Achievable Goals for ASCs in 2011

Michael Lipomi recently became president and CEO of Surgical Management Professionals in Sioux Falls, S.D., which runs 16 facilities. Eleven of them are ASCs and five are physician-owned hospitals. With ... Click to continue »

6 Common Complaints Physicians Have When Acquired by Hospitals

Robert C. Bohlmann, principal of MGMA Health Care Consulting Group, advises hospitals on integrating group practices. Here he lists six common complaints physicians have when their practices are acquired ... Click to continue »

56 ASC Management and Development Companies to Watch in 2011

Here is a list of 56 companies involved in ASC management and development. Note: This list is not an endorsement of any company. Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies. Ambulatory Healthcare Strategies ... Click to continue »

12 Anesthesia Processes to Track and Benchmark

Here Thomas Wherry, MD, principal of Total Anesthesia Solutions and medical director for Health Inventures, discusses 12 anesthesia processes to consider benchmarking in your ASC. He recommends choosing ... Click to continue »

9 Key Considerations Regarding Healthcare Internal Investigations

Healthcare providers face a climate of increased investigation coupled with a quickly changing business environment. The Department of Justice has requested increases in its budget, including substantial ... Click to continue »

6 Things GI/Endoscopy-Driven ASCs Should Benchmark

Bunny Twiford, RN, president of Twiford Consulting in Warminster, Pa., shares six things GI-driven ASCs should benchmark. 1. Length of the procedure vs. scheduling allotments. Ms. Twiford says ASCs should ... Click to continue »

35 Statistics About GI/Endoscopy

Here are 35 statistics about GI/endoscopy. 1. Mean gross charges per GI/endoscopy case in ASCs is $3,305. 2. Mean gross net revenue per GI/endoscopy case in ASCs is $816. 3. GI/endoscopy cases ... Click to continue »

21 GI/Endoscopy-Driven ASCs to Know

Here is a list of 21 notable GI and endoscopy-driven ASCs. Ambulatory Endoscopy Clinic of Dallas (Dallas, Texas). The Ambulatory Endoscopy Clinic of Dallas opened in April 1993 as the first ... Click to continue »

ASC Managed Care Contracting Best Practices by Specialty

ASC managed care contracting best practices are largely dependent on an ASC's specialty mix. While single-specialty centers can rely on best practices for their specific specialty, multi-specialty facilities ... Click to continue »

Guidance for Benchmarking Your ASC as Part of a Quality Improvement Program

Dianne Wallace, executive director of Menomonee Falls (Wis.) Ambulatory Surgery Center, explains how the surgery center has implemented benchmarking processes as part of its larger quality improvement ... Click to continue »

4 Target Areas for ASC Supply Chain Savings

Here are four areas ASC administrators, owners or materials managers should target for greater savings at their facilities. 1. Generic brands of ASC supplies. Shawn Lunney, vice president of sales ... Click to continue »

10 Proven Strategies to Successfully Reduce ASC Supply Costs

As the economy struggles to stabilize and ASCs deal with declining reimbursements, it is critical for surgery centers to take more proactive approaches to saving money and helping their bottom line when ... Click to continue »

Section 179 Deduction for Businesses Increased to $500,000

Now here's something that doesn't happen very often, especially lately: The Feds recently passed legislation that actually benefits small and medium businesses. H.R. 5297, known as the "Small Business ... Click to continue »