At Becker's ASC Meeting in Chicago on Oct. 23, Kenny Hancock, president and chief development officer at Brentwood, Tenn.-based Meridian Surgical Partners explained the key market drivers that are increasing the migration of spine and higher acuity cases to the ASC, thus creating opportunity and access for more patient volume.
Below are three of the key market drivers that are causing the influx of spine and total joint cases to ASCs, according to Mr. Hancock.
1. Minimally invasive "mindset." Physicians, patients and the industry have the mindset that minimally invasive is the way to go. "From the industry perspective, medical device companies have been a driver with technology and technique," said Mr. Hancock. He also noted it is very easy for patients to research spine procedures and joint replacement procedures on the internet when they're considering having a surgery, and there is an abundance of information out there about minimally invasive procedures.
2. Technology. The development of surgical technology has been a key market driver in the shift of spine and higher acuity cases to an ASC setting. New implants, instruments, techniques and advances in anesthesia all contribute to the increased number of spine and total joint replacement procedures now being performed at ASCs.
3. Insurance acceptance. For patients to be able to have their spine and higher acuity procedures performed in an ASC setting, ASCs "must have acceptance from the insurance entities," said Mr. Hancock, and that is happening more and more. To gain acceptance, Mr. Hancock said it's necessary to convince the medical directors from insurance companies that a procedure is safe to perform in an ASC.