20 years ago, most ASCs typically cared for ASA 1 and 2 patients: young, relatively healthy patients having simple, relatively non-invasive surgery. Fast forward to 2021 - as advances in anesthesia techniques, surgical techniques, and an overall better understanding of minimizing risk for ambulatory surgical patients has evolved, most ambulatory surgery center preop surgical nurses today will routinely care for at least some ASA 3 patients. 

As an ambulatory surgical nurse, you know what that means: older, sicker patients with more cardiac problems. Frequently, these patients come with either (1) a slew of pre-admissions documentation that you have to weed through or (2) nothing at all. It seems like there’s never just the right amount!

Transitioning from paper records to cloud software offers multiple advantages to your ASC. Records are more secure, efficiency is increased, paperwork is minimized, problems with misfiling and lost forms are eliminated, and you no longer have to store vast amounts of paper. Despite the many advantages of ASC cloud software, staff can be resistant to the change. In a hectic Ambulatory Surgery Center, individuals may resist changing the way they've been doing things for years. How do you get your staff on board with a change from paper to cloud software solutions?

Two thousand twenty one.

It's been a challenging year for Ambulatory Surgery Centers. The unprecedented spread of a new virus, financial woes for patients, and continuing changes in how insurance companies treat ASCs for outpatient surgery have all had their impact. Moving into 2021, the success of any ASC hinges on preserving patient safety and satisfaction.  

There were several unexpected issues in 2020 that have impacted the health care industry, and Ambulatory Surgery Centers in particular, in profound ways. If ASCs were paying attention, they have learned some valuable lessons to apply to the coming year to ensure they continue to operate smoothly.

Accreditation is a daunting process that most facilities dread. We put together a guide to help you feel as prepared as possible.

The twofold goal of every ASC is the same: provide excellent ambulatory care, increase revenue. When we think of growing revenue, we often focus only on filling up the OR and working more efficiently. But payment plans are a crucial way to avoid leaving money on the table. 

Complex surgeries like spine and total joint replacement were once the exclusive domain of hospitals because of the long post-op recovery times and the massive amount of equipment and implants needed. With new anesthesia techniques, these surgeries have made the leap to ambulatory surgery centers. For some ASC’s, this move has created a logistical nightmare.

Across healthcare, increasing quality and decreasing costs are two common goals. To keep your ASC running efficiently, it’s crucial to cut the fat. Where are you spending money that you don’t need to be spending? Here are 3 areas to think about as we enter into the new year.