November/December 2020 Issue of Becker's ASC Review
ON THE COVER
The 11 specialties that haven't recovered from COVID-19
While most outpatient specialties have recovered from COVID-19-related delays, some are still struggling, according to a study from Commonwealth Fund.
ASCs in the next 5 years: 3 expert insights
Healthcare is going through significant changes due to the pandemic and ASCs are in a prime position to thrive.
6 new cardiology ASCs, outpatient facilities
Six cardiology-focused ASCs and outpatient facilities opened or announced since mid-August:
ASC plans $12.8M relocation, build-out in Nashville — 3 details
Nashville-based Specialty Surgery Center expects to invest more than $12.8 million into a relocation and facility build-out, according to Intelligence360 News.
'Newsweek' ranks America's Best ASCs in 25 states
Newsweek partnered with global research firm Statista to identify the 400 best ASCs in 25 states with the most facilities.
SCA centers added 1,000+ new surgeons in 2020 so far: 5 things to know
Surgical Care Affiliates helped propel Optum's 12 percent year-over-year increase in quarterly earnings for the third quarter as it continues to add surgeons and services amid the pandemic.
Texas practice performs 2 heart procedures in ASC setting
Waco-based Heart of Texas Surgery Center recently performed two heart procedures in an ASC, according to administrator Debbie Smith.
How Google ranks top spine surgeons
A group of researchers examined how Google ranks top spine surgeons and published their findings in Spine.
6 spine surgeons on the biggest obstacle they face going forward
Insurance companies and the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are some of the issues at the forefront of spine surgeons' minds. Here, six surgeons discuss the biggest obstacles to the specialty going forward.
Gastro Health partners with 2 practices, expands into Ohio
Miami-based Gastro Health partnered with Cincinnati-based Ohio Gastroenterology & Liver Institute and Woodbridge, Va.-based Associates in Gastroenterology in two separate deals, the platform announced Oct. 1.
ASC MANAGEMENT
Court tosses $7M judgment awarded to patient paralyzed after spine injection at ASC
The Colorado Court of Appeals reversed a $7 million judgment against Surgery Center at Lone Tree (Colo.) on Oct. 15, saying the ASC should not have been held vicariously liable for a spine surgeon's alleged malpractice.
Wisconsin pain practice pays $1 million in federal kickback settlement
Greenfield, Wis.-based Advanced Pain Management paid $1 million to settle a federal lawsuit alleging kickback payments before filing for receivership, according to an Oct. 5 report from the Milwaukee Business Journal.
Texas practice performs 2 heart procedures in ASC setting
Waco-based Heart of Texas Surgery Center recently performed two heart procedures in an ASC, according to administrator Debbie Smith.
4 Kansas physicians resign from hospital over CEO salary, medical interaction concerns
Four Meade (Kan.) District Hospital physicians with concerns about the CEO's leadership and salary left the hospital, according to local news reports from KSCB and KAKE.
ASC surgeon is world's 1st to implant alert system for heart disease patients
On Sept. 29, Kelly Tucker, MD, became the world's first physician to implant the AngelMed Guardian System.
ADMINISTRATOR THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
The big opportunities for ASCs today: 2 physician perspectives
Over the past several months ASCs across the U.S. experienced temporary closures or case drops and then recovery with the pandemic.
The ASC in 2021: 3 expert predictions on robotics
Three leaders shared their predictions for robotics in ASCs over the next 12 months with Becker's ASC Review.
AAAHC names new board leaders
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care named new officers and three elected positions to its board of directors for 2021, according to a Nov. 10 press release.
Top priorities for ASC leaders today and in 2021: 7 key trends
The outlook for ASCs is bright despite challenges brought on by the pandemic in the past year.
What keeps ENTs up at night: 6 perspectives
Otolaryngology is a growing field that's faced unique challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Six otolaryngologists told Becker's ASC Review about what keeps them up at night.
JOINT VENTURES
Physician ownership changed in 2020: 7 insights
Seven observations and predictions related to physician practice ownership in 2020:
Minnesota ASC breaks ground on facility expansion
St. Cloud (Minn.) Surgical Center broke ground on an $11 million facility expansion, according to an Oct. 13 report from KNSI.
ASC plans $12.8M relocation, build-out in Nashville — 3 details
Nashville-based Specialty Surgery Center expects to invest more than $12.8 million into a relocation and facility build-out, according to Intelligence360 News.
Sale falls through for physician-owned hospital in Idaho
A deal to sell Northwest Specialty Hospital fell through, so the Post Falls, Idaho-based facility will remain physician-owned, according to The Spokesman-Review.
6 new cardiology ASCs, outpatient facilities
Six cardiology-focused ASCs and outpatient facilities opened or announced since mid-August:
ORTHOPEDICS
The ASC payer landscape in 2021: 6 administrator insights
Six ASC administrators from California to New Jersey discuss the payer landscape in their area and what they expect in the next year.
Dr. Alexander Vaccaro on the 'secret sauce' behind Rothman Orthopaedics' Florida expansion
Becker's Spine Review spoke with Alexander Vaccaro, MD, PhD, president of Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, about the secret behind the group's Florida expansion and key markets for orthopedics today.
North American Spine Society recognizes 20 spine specialists under 40
The North American Spine Society released its list of 20 spine specialists under 40 in the October 2020 edition of SpineLine.
Dr. Justin Brown creates surgical technique to reverse paralysis
Neurosurgeon Justin Brown, MD, has developed a surgical technique to help some neurologic patients regain movement, according to a Sept. 13 Boston Herald report.
Neurosurgeon, practice administrator to settle false claims allegations for $1M: 5 details
A Philadelphia-based neurosurgeon and his practice administrator agreed to settle false claims allegations related to billing for an electro-acupuncture device, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
GASTROENTROLOGY
COVID-19 patients with GI symptoms had worse outcomes than patients without, study says
COVID-19 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms had higher admission rates to hospitals and intensive care units and higher intubation rates than those without GI symptoms, according to a poster presented at ACG 2020, Oct. 23-28.
Meet ACG's next president, Dr. David Greenwald
David Greenwald, MD, was elected as the 2020-21 president of the American College of Gastroenterology during the college's virtual 2020 meeting, Oct. 23-28.
Many colonoscopies end with surprise medical bills, study says
Nearly 1 in 12 colonoscopies without an associated intervention ended with an out-of-network claim, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Initiating CRC screening at 45 added 20+ life years, decreased CRC incidence, model says
Using a noninvasive test to screen for colorectal cancer when a patient turned 45 years old added life years and decreased CRC incidence compared to starting screening when a patient turned 50 years old, according to a poster presented at ACG 2020, Oct. 23-28.
US Preventive Services Task Force to recommend lowering CRC screening age to 45
After much debate, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force will issue guidance to lower the colorectal cancer screening age to 45 in response to growing early-onset CRC rates, NBC News reports.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
Newark Beth Israel breaks ties with director of troubled heart transplant program
Mark Zucker, MD, director of Newark (N.J.) Beth Israel Medical Center's heart transplant program left his role Oct. 30 after being on administrative leave for the last year, reports ProPublica.
CMS releases second part of Medicare Advantage, Part D rule: 3 things to know
CMS issued part two of its proposed 2022 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice, which updates payment methodologies to Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
Georgia hospital closes after 6 years
Northridge Medical Center, a 90-bed hospital in Commerce, Ga., closed Oct. 31.
Hospitals take action to avoid ransomware attacks, including pre-emptive email shut down
Hospitals across the U.S. are taking pre-emptive steps to avoid cyberattacks after the FBI issued a warning of increased hacking activity on Oct. 28.
CMS fines 2,545 hospitals for high readmissions: 5 things to know
In fiscal year 2021, CMS will penalize 2,545 hospitals for having too many Medicare patients readmitted within 30 days, according to federal data cited by Kaiser Health News.