David Shapiro, MD, offers guidance to ASC leaders preparing for the accreditation process as well as four key strategies to achieve success in a competitive landscape.
Dr. Shapiro will be speaking at the Becker's 16th Annual Future of Spine + The Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference. To learn more and register, click here. Contact Maura Jodoin at mjodoin@beckershealthcare.com or Kristelle Khazzaka at Kkhazzaka@beckershealthcare.com for further information about sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.
Dr. Shapiro is an anesthesiologist in Tallahassee, Fla., and a board member for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.
Question: How can leaders advocate for ASCs on state and national levels to ensure they thrive in a competitive marketplace?
Dr. David Shapiro: [Leaders can advocate for ASCs by]:
• Remaining abreast of prevailing regulations and requirements.
• Striving to expand the capabilities of an ASC to provide the increasing number of services now possible to perform in an outpatient setting.
• Continually developing relationships with surgeons and anesthesia providers in their communities.
• Monitoring, and renegotiating as appropriate, payer and vendor contracts on an ongoing basis.
Q: What would you advise ASCs do to prepare for the accreditation process and how early should preparation begin?
DS: Ideally, an ASC should strive to remain in compliance throughout their term of accreditation. To begin the accreditation process, they should try to submit an application about five to six months prior to the desired dates of survey and/or to the expiration of their current term. A critical component of preparation is securing a copy of the handbook version against which they will be surveyed. Subsequently, a thorough standard-by-standard review of an organization's policies and procedures should be conducted.