Since 2009, almost 50 percent of newly opened ASCs have closed, according to 2015 Advisory Board data. Mnet Health Services CEO David Hamilton penned a list of strategies ASCs can leverage to avoid that fate.
1. Strategically recruit new physicians. Employ surgeons who will strengthen existing areas of specialization or bring in new areas of specialty, as expanding services drives up case volume. To attract different specialists, Mr. Hamilton recommends developing relationships with physicians who are dissatisfied with working in hospital settings.
2. Enter into new partnerships. Case volume can be boosted through partnerships, whether between physicians and ASCs or hospitals and ASCs. Physicians given ownership in an ASC become invested in the center's growth. Hospitals in joint venture partnerships with ASCs can transfer low-reimbursement cases to the ASCs, freeing up their ORs for high-reimbursement cases.
3. Improve the quality of care and patient satisfaction. Gather data on patient outcomes and satisfaction. It's critical to understand how patients perceive their experience — including interactions with physicians — and whether they'd recommend the facility to others. Centers should make adjustments based on that feedback, according to Mr. Hamilton.