Lara Herndon, regional director of operations for Glendale, Calif.-based Prime MSO, discusses the big staffing challenges at her center and how she maintains a positive culture.
Question: What has been your biggest staffing challenge and how do you overcome it?
Lara Herndon: Retaining staff has been difficult for us as a company. We have expended a lot of time, energy and resources training staff, i.e., AORN's Peri-op 101, only to have them leave us after their one-year commitment expires. Many of the nursing staff members leave for acute care facilities that are unionized and offer a far larger base salary that we can as independent ASCs.
Q: What is your philosophy on building and maintaining a positive culture at the ASC?
LH: As long as I am enjoying what I am doing, the staff seem to as well. We often do teambuilding activities. I am never afraid to admit that I am wrong, or to ask a team member's opinion.
Q: What tips do you have for new administrators managing an ASC team for the first time?
LH: Read everything you can find on ASCs. Subscribe to Becker's ASC Review and other subscriptions that provide such valuable insights.
Q: How have you challenged your team to grow in 2019?
LH: Work on retention and teambuilding.