Great Lakes Surgical Center in Southfield, Mich., with about 25 owners, has been open for five years. With four ORs and a volume of 6,500 to 7,000 cases a year, it is solidly in the black. Keith Metz, MD, anesthesiologist and medical director of the ASC, offers eight secrets to success.
1. Staff has a sense of ownership. The surgery center encourages a sense of ownership through a profit-sharing program for staff. If there is a problem in the schedule, the appropriate staff member is responsible for fixing it, Dr. Metz says. This means they should be willing to work longer hours on some days to accommodate last-minute changes in the schedule.
2. Surgeons should be flexible. When surgeons see themselves as team players, it's easier to alter the schedule to accommodate a last-minute change. Surgeons who are not team players will make this very difficult to do. Surgeons must also speak openly with each other so that their needs are understood, Dr. Metz says.
3. Stay on top of the schedule. Dr. Metz and his scheduler are constantly monitoring and updating the schedule. If colleague needs to change slots for the schedule to function properly, Dr. Metz does not hesitate to make a call. "Our surgeons are very mindful of our staff, but it helps a little bit to have an MD making the call," he says.
4. Surgeons call if running late. When the ASC is alerted as little as a half hour beforehand that the surgeon will be late, staff can take steps to prevent the rest of the cases for the day running late. For example, cases can be switched between ORs. "We don't want anyone to be bumped," Dr. Metz says.
5. Accommodate unscheduled cases. Two-thirds to three-quarters of unscheduled cases can be accommodated in as little as 24 hours before surgery, Dr. Metz says. "For example, when an unscheduled case needs to be done the next day, we can move up the starting time from 7 a.m. to 6:30 and ask the first surgeon to push back his or her first case to 7:30 without too much disruption of his schedule," Dr. Metz says. "Staff is already present and can start a half hour earlier."
6. Look for more surgeons. When a competing ASC is in trouble or is closing, a partner who has a connection with one of its physicians should reach out to them. Great Lakes has recruited several surgeons, including a few partners, in this way.
7. Accommodate non-owners. Owning physicians need to go out of their way to accommodate non-owners, who make up 10 percent of volume at the ASC. "We try to give them the time they want as much as possible," Dr. Metz says.
8. Move cases from the hospital. Persuade physician-owners to move every single appropriate case from the hospital to the ASC. Dr. Metz asks them what it will take to meet their needs. Do they need more equipment? Do their want to be matched with a certain staff member? Do they want certain schedule slots? Physicians who are taking twice as long to do their cases in the hospital will appreciate the interest, he says.
Learn more about Great Lakes Surgical Center.
Read more stories on ASC improvement:
- 3 Steps to Increase Profitability and Marketability From Dr. William Lahners
- 10 Best Practices for Recruiting New Partners to Your ASC
- 4 Key Questions to Ask to Determine if an ASC Can be Turned Around
1. Staff has a sense of ownership. The surgery center encourages a sense of ownership through a profit-sharing program for staff. If there is a problem in the schedule, the appropriate staff member is responsible for fixing it, Dr. Metz says. This means they should be willing to work longer hours on some days to accommodate last-minute changes in the schedule.
2. Surgeons should be flexible. When surgeons see themselves as team players, it's easier to alter the schedule to accommodate a last-minute change. Surgeons who are not team players will make this very difficult to do. Surgeons must also speak openly with each other so that their needs are understood, Dr. Metz says.
3. Stay on top of the schedule. Dr. Metz and his scheduler are constantly monitoring and updating the schedule. If colleague needs to change slots for the schedule to function properly, Dr. Metz does not hesitate to make a call. "Our surgeons are very mindful of our staff, but it helps a little bit to have an MD making the call," he says.
4. Surgeons call if running late. When the ASC is alerted as little as a half hour beforehand that the surgeon will be late, staff can take steps to prevent the rest of the cases for the day running late. For example, cases can be switched between ORs. "We don't want anyone to be bumped," Dr. Metz says.
5. Accommodate unscheduled cases. Two-thirds to three-quarters of unscheduled cases can be accommodated in as little as 24 hours before surgery, Dr. Metz says. "For example, when an unscheduled case needs to be done the next day, we can move up the starting time from 7 a.m. to 6:30 and ask the first surgeon to push back his or her first case to 7:30 without too much disruption of his schedule," Dr. Metz says. "Staff is already present and can start a half hour earlier."
6. Look for more surgeons. When a competing ASC is in trouble or is closing, a partner who has a connection with one of its physicians should reach out to them. Great Lakes has recruited several surgeons, including a few partners, in this way.
7. Accommodate non-owners. Owning physicians need to go out of their way to accommodate non-owners, who make up 10 percent of volume at the ASC. "We try to give them the time they want as much as possible," Dr. Metz says.
8. Move cases from the hospital. Persuade physician-owners to move every single appropriate case from the hospital to the ASC. Dr. Metz asks them what it will take to meet their needs. Do they need more equipment? Do their want to be matched with a certain staff member? Do they want certain schedule slots? Physicians who are taking twice as long to do their cases in the hospital will appreciate the interest, he says.
Learn more about Great Lakes Surgical Center.
Read more stories on ASC improvement:
- 3 Steps to Increase Profitability and Marketability From Dr. William Lahners
- 10 Best Practices for Recruiting New Partners to Your ASC
- 4 Key Questions to Ask to Determine if an ASC Can be Turned Around