In the fast-paced world of healthcare, the right technology can improve your efficiency in crucial ways. What’s more, choosing technology solutions that work together and integrate seamlessly gives you the most bang for your buck. When evaluating new software, consider how all the parts work together to create the whole.

Innovations Surgery Center (ISC) in Rockville, MD is a surgery center that is dedicated exclusively to GYN procedures. Their innovative techniques keep even the most complicated procedures to a minimally invasive level. They are known for their exceptional patient outcomes and revolutionizing female health procedures.

We had learned about the power outages and fires happening in California; we wanted to help.  

News Anchor: “California is burning...statewide utilities cut power to more than 209,000 customers to minimize the fire risk.” 

Paula: My name is Paula Schinning and I'm a Customer Success Manager here at One Medical Passport. We reached out to our California clients to see if we could help them get the word out to their patients about facilities closing or delaying surgery.

Sarah Sterling, an Administrator at Sutter Health: “It was 10pm when our center lost power. We were in a position where we just didn't know how to get ahold of our physicians, our staff, and most importantly, our patients. We needed to let them know the status of the center and their procedures”. 

Paula: We reached out to a couple of facilities and went ahead and turned on one time messaging through Passport Engage, our patient engagement solution. They were able to reach out to their patients pretty quickly.  We left it on for them just as they were kind of recovering from that, and then we had customers that were actively evacuating.

News Anchor: “Further north and Sonoma County conditions are even worse, forcing 200,000 evacuations”.

Paula: Some of the facilities had smoke in their OR’s and they couldn’t have access to their scheduling system. So, being at home, they were able to get ahold of patients to tell them “hey we're closed for the week due to the fires” and much more effectively manage their patient cases.

The clients were extremely happy because we were able to quickly do this for them. They want to be able to put these actions into place in their emergency preparedness plan, so, in the future, if there's these things, they know these steps to take.   Some of the administrators were out-of-state and they didn't have access to their computer systems on site. We were able to do this because we're a cloud-based solution and we have all that information for them. 

Sarah Sterling: “Now I'm more comfortable in knowing that I have that feature and I know that we'll be able to communicate with our patients and so it was very helpful.”

Paula: It was a very easy process for them and they were able to get ahold of us very quickly. Even on a Sunday, I noted that they are calling me from California, so, I answered the phone. I knew they needed help for Monday morning.

As ASC clinicians, we get used to surgery. But for patients’ family members, sometimes this is their first time in the waiting room. Communicating with family members effectively and regularly is key to keeping high satisfaction scores and providing top-quality care. 

Getting patients in and out of the OR safely and efficiently is the top priority at an any ASC. You’re using the best, most innovative equipment in the operating room. Are you using the same cutting-edge tools to track patients?

Do you know how much paper charts are costing you? By some estimates, manual charting can consume up to $3-7 per chart. Based on national case volume averages, this can add up to $30,000 per year spent on recording patient data, assembling and disassembling case files, and retrieving charts. With these numbers in mind, the time is now to transition to digital patient charts.

What does it take to successfully manage an ASC? As with any administrative role, you must find the balance of being a leader and being a team player. Follow these 4 habits for success in your leadership role and in your ASC.

Quality reporting is a crucial strategy for improving your ASC's efficiency while ensuring patient safety. However, increasing OR volumes and CMS survey requirements mean that quality reporting can easily consume many extra hours. Here’s how you can improve without bankrupting your most precious resource—time.

Onboarding new technology is the beginning of easier processes within surgical facilities. The process of onboarding can appear daunting, but by debunking a few misconceptions and explaining the best way to navigate your staff through this process, we'll help you realize why it's not.