In the current atmosphere of steady ASC growth, it’s important to understand the value that ASCs add to the healthcare landscape, especially in comparison with the acute space.
Cost savings are the most commonly recognized benefit of ASCs, but their value goes far beyond penny pinching. For independently owned ASCs, the ability to articulate added value to patients can influence word-of-mouth marketing and enhance their overall experience. Insight into potential drivers for growth and enhanced KPIs may help you to optimize your facility, so here are five key benefits to take advantage of.
1. Less exposure to disease and infection:
In the ambulatory setting, there’s less exposure to communicable and infectious diseases compared with acute facilities. According to a 2010 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8.95 out of 1,000 patients developed a surgical site infection (SSI) within the acute space, while only 4.84 developed an SSI in the ASC space.i As ASC patients are generally in good health and not undergoing treatment for infections, this is an element of the acute setting that patients don’t have to worry about in an ambulatory space. Stressing this to potential patients allows them to understand the risks that may accompany an inpatient procedure.
2. A better environment for patients and their families:
From the patient perspective, acute facilities can be difficult to navigate, especially for older patients who may have decreased mobility or poor eyesight. Most consumers fall within this older population, particularly as more procedures are approved by CMS. In most stand-alone ASCs, parking is conveniently located right in the front of the facility and the waiting area is directly inside the door. To further enhance this benefit, make sure your ASC is easy to navigate and that entrances are clearly marked with large, easy-to-read signs.
Furthermore, family can be more involved in their loved one’s care within the ASC setting. Since the patient will be returning home following the surgery, it’s vital that staff instruct the family how to care for the patient in the 24 hours following an operation. The family will also receive more attention from staff than they would in a crowded acute waiting area, where family members must be more adamant about receiving patient updates and information. Take advantage of this benefit by ensuring that your waiting room is comfortable and that staff members are accommodating and open with family members.
3. Less complexity for staff:
Overall, ASCs are smaller and far less complex than acute facilities. Among ASC staff, decisions can be made quickly without having to work for buy-in from multiple stakeholders. Far fewer committees are involved in implementing a product or process change as well. This allows for greater flexibility, and facilities can quickly pivot and adapt to changing healthcare trends and patient needs.
Processes like standardized customer feedback surveys can reveal actionable data to increase customer satisfaction through small changes, and all team members in an ASC can work closely and implement top-notch communication to enhance patient care. In an acute facility, larger staff sizes may make it difficult for every staff member impacting that patient to interact or have full knowledge of the patient’s experience. Take advantage of this benefit by working to foster communication and standardize processes among your staff.
Furthermore, from my experience working and consulting in both the ASC and acute spaces, ASC personnel don’t operate at the same stress level as an acute facility. It’s not that staff isn’t working hard- it’s a factor of the environment that they’re in. Since ASCs generally don’t have weekend or holiday shifts, there’s potential to retain a higher percentage of perioperative staff as well.ii Satisfied employees result in better patient care.
4. Streamlined supply consumption:
An element of the more affordable care provided in ASCs is that they can be remarkably streamlined from a supply consumption standpoint. A smaller facility makes for more manageable inventory as well as a greater emphasis on reducing cost and waste than in the acute space. Staff members (including physicians) are often aware of the cost of the supplies and medications that they use. They’re also sensitive to that cost, so items aren’t opened unless absolutely necessary. Expertise with multiple iterations of the same surgeries leads to increased awareness of which items are most often wasted, so staff can optimize usage based on a specific facility and its specialties.
5. A sustainable model with opportunities for growth:
The ASC model is positioned for a strong future. Five years ago, it was hard to imagine doing a total knee replacement and then sending a patient home five hours later. Now, the number of total joint replacements performed in ASCs is expected to grow 73% by 2026.iii Other complex surgeries are moving into the ambulatory space as well, including neurosurgical procedures that I never imagined being performed in a non-acute space. Spine and cardiovascular procedures are also expected to grow in coming years.
As such surgeries become more common, some ASCs are establishing relationships with hotels so patients can travel for surgeries and stay nearby. Some are also working with home care agencies, which allow patients to receive the care they need in a home setting. This helps ASCs in three ways: it can make the patient more comfortable, reduce liability, and put surgeons at ease since they know patients will be receiving the clinical care they need at home. Consider how such relationships might benefit your ASC and positively impact the patients you serve, especially if you anticipate future growth for your facility.
To learn more about strategies for surgery center success, visit www.cardinalhealth.com/SurgeryCenters.
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ihttps://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/ssi-rates-hospitals-vs-ascs-2010.html
iihttps://www.healthleadersmedia.com/clinical-care/how-asc-facilities-turn-their-smaller-operations-safer-operations
iiihttps://www.beckersasc.com/asc-turnarounds-ideas-to-improve-performance/5-asc-trends-to-watch-this-year.html